Encampment members move tents to comply with fire code, prevent big fines for University of Guelph

Members of a pro-Palestinian encampment have moved their tents after the University of Guelph says it could have been fined $20,000 per day for blocking an evacuation pathway.

Originally, the university said it was being fined, but in an update posted on Tuesday, the school clarified it has not received any fines to date. The update also said encampment members have now moved their tents off the evacuation pathway.

On Monday, the university said on its website that after an assessment, Guelph Fire Services (GFS) had found some of the encampment members' tents near Reynolds Walk were blocking the evacuation pathway from Zavitz Hall, home to the university's School of Fine Art and Music.

Guelph Fire Chief Brian Arnold says the timeline for compliance by the university has been extended.

"Upon re-inspection, if the property owner is found not to be compliant with the Ontario Fire Code, we may consider prosecution, which could ultimately result in a court issuing fines to the property owner of up to $20,000 per day for Failure to Comply with an Inspection Order," Arnold said.

CBC News is waiting for clarification on when the next reinspection date is for the university.

University mitigates risk

The memo from the university says staff had tried to convince encampment members to clear the obstructed path when it was first identified as an issue.

"We were hopeful that members of the encampment would voluntarily comply with the requirements to relocate in the interests of safety of those using Zavitz," it says.

To mitigate risk, the university has temporarily closed Zavitz Hall and plans to install additional security cameras in the area. Zavitz Hall will be reopening once the university gets approval from Guelph Fire Services.

GFS had given the university a May 31 deadline to clear the obstructed path. The university confirmed in a memo on Tuesday that the pathway is in fact no longer obstructed by tents.

Encampment set up 'in solidarity with Gaza'

A group called UOGForPalestine organized the approximately 20 tents in Branion Plaza, near the school's library, in late May, among the various encampments at universities in Canada.

According to the group's Instagram page, they are protesting "in solidarity with Gaza and as a continuation of our fight for the University of Guelph to divest from genocide."

WATCH | Protesters speak on why there's a pro-Palestinian encampment at University of Guelph:

Encampment set up on University of Guelph campus

6 months ago

Duration 1:29

A group called UOGForPalestine has organized an encampment at the University of Guelph. They say it's "in solidarity with Gaza and as a continuation of our fight for the University of Guelph to divest from genocide." It was set up on Tuesday and there are approximately 20 tents in Branion Plaza, near the school's library. The university says it's aware of the encampment and has been in contact with the individuals involved "to remind them of campus policies" because encampments "go against university policies and are not permitted."

Waida Mirzada is a University of Guelph student and the spokesperson for the encampment group.

"These students have been mobilizing for months. We have faced so much suppression and censorship from this institution," she told CBC News. 

In a message on its website, the university said it's monitoring the encampment and has been in contact with the individuals involved "to remind them of campus policies" concerning the health and safety risks of having an encampment.

Other similar pro-Palestinian protests and encampments at university campuses have included the University of Waterloo, McGill University in Montreal, the University of Toronto, McMaster University in Hamilton and the University of Windsor.