Occupy Calgary participants set up camp

Occupy Calgary activists have set up camp on St. Patrick's Island ahead of the official event.

The city said it will assess the Occupy Calgary camp on a daily basis to ensure there are no health or safety issues.

Organizers with the social justice movement set up the "safe camp" in advance of the official Occupy Calgary action, which will be held Saturday, Oct. 15 at 1 p.m. outside of Bankers Hall on Eighth Ave. S.W.

It is the fourth day of the occupation and organizers say the number of people staying at the camp has grown from four people on the first night to 31 people Monday night.

A man staying at the camp — who didn't want his name used — said the worldwide movement that expanded from the Occupy Wall Street political action to more than 1,000 cities worldwide has a simple message that he agrees with.

"I am here to help everybody. I have to do what I feel is best for everybody concerned and when I look at the world and the way we live. We're not doing what is best for everybody."

The city has provided the group with a portable toilet, a fire pit and a garbage can.

"The city has stepped up, the mayor's office has stepped up," said camper Paul Hughes, who was recently voted as Calgary’s No. 1 activist in a survey in the alternative newspaper FFWD Weekly.

Organizers say they have room for up to 500 people at the Occupy Calgary camp and hope their numbers will grow substantially by Friday.