Protesters not expected to affect STWM

The “Occupy Toronto” movement is heading to the city’s financial district this weekend, but organizers of the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon aren’t anticipating any disruptions.

“Hopefully there’s enough room here for all of us,” Alan Brookes, organizer of the race, told Canadian Running editor Mihira Lakshman. “The key word is respect.”

Brookes says organizers of the Chicago Marathon experienced a similar situation last weekend, and the protesters did not disrupt the proceedings. “People peacefully coexisted, recognizing everyone’s democratic right to have their voices heard,” he said.

And while Sunday’s race is a chance for runners – both elite and recreational from around the world – to fulfill their dreams, Brookes says the race is also important to a number of different charities.

“Six thousand of our runners will raise $3 million to help charities,” Brookes said. A few of those charities include Amnesty International, the Geneva Centre for Autism Foundation, Matthew House Refugee Reception Services, MukiBaum Treatment Centres for children and adults with complex disabilities and many more.

According to a report on 680news.com, the protesters’ exact locations this weekend are still unclear, however, many are expected to congregate at the intersection of Bay and King Streets, long considered to be the city’s financial centre. The problem is that the STWM finish line is located at that same intersection, and race organizers aren’t going to be able to move it.

“A marathon is 42.195 kilometres. It takes about 16 or 18 hours to measure that course over two days. That was done over the summer,” Brookes said. “It’s measured very precisely, so it’s not like you can just use the odometer on the car to measure out another course.”

Organizers of the “Occupy Toronto” protest did not return Canadian Running’s request for comments, but Brookes says he believes the race will go smoothly.

“We understand the police and the city have been meeting on a regular basis with the organizers of Occupy Toronto with the goal of everyone being able to peacefully coexist,” he said. “The word we have from the police or the city authorities is hopefully there’ll be room for everybody. We have to run our race and do the best we can to put on something we’re proud of and our city’s proud of and hope there’s room for everybody.”