That is interesting -- also bizarre and, as you say, unpleasant. I
wonder what their problem was?  Was it the cause itself (although Fair
Vote seems pretty innocuous to me) or was it purely a control thing?  I
mean - ushers? Security? "Supervisors"? At an ACM?  This was a
"community" event??? How are you supposed to engage with your neighbours
and local candidates in that sort of environment?

Side note: I do think democratic processes and engagement are a side of
health promotion, so I don't think this is off-topic for Click4HP.
Essentially: how can we ensure ACMs support healthy communities and
civic engagement instead of discouraging it?

Robyn

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Health Promotion on the Internet 
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Chrystal Ocean
> Sent: Friday, October 17, 2008 12:46 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [CLICK4HP] Feminists, Poverty-Environment-Health 
> Activists, All: Attention please!
> 
> Robyn, the entrance to the theatre at all points was blocked. 
> I wouldn't have been able to get past the usher/security if 
> I'd tried. Even as I approached them to ask permission, I 
> could see them eyeing my cloth grocery bag with suspicion. 
> Then after I'd asked, they held me there while someone else 
> trotted off to find a supervisor.
> When the supervisor arrived, who I'd been given to understand 
> was the Theatre Manager, she suggested I could hand out the 
> flyers in the lobby downstairs. So off I went to do that.
> 
> Five minutes later, a woman approached me in the lobby, 
> grabbed me, told me I had to stop, must put my flyers in my 
> bag immediately, right that second, and leave.
> 
> Finally identified herself as the Theatre Manager.
> 
> She assumed my guilt.
> 
> So I said I'd go outside. I was told No, and No, and No.
> 
> Was an extremely unpleasant, eye-opening experience.
> 
> Ocean
> 
> 
> WISE Book - Policies of Exclusion, Poverty & Health: Stories 
> from the front Podcast Channel: 
> http://bcseawalker.podbean.com/ Personal Blog: Challenging 
> the Commonplace - and other irreverent activities 
> http://challengingthecommonplace.blogspot.com/
> 
> See also Fair Vote Canada's home for abandoned, neglected and 
> abused voters
> -
> http://www.orphanvoters.ca/
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Fri, Oct 17, 2008 at 9:10 AM, Kalda, Robyn 
> <[log in to unmask]>wrote:
> 
> >  > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Health Promotion on the Internet 
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On 
> > > Behalf Of Chrystal Ocean
> > > Sent: Saturday, October 11, 2008 7:24 PM
> > >
> > >
> > > For example, at the All Candidates Meeting in my 
> community, I wanted 
> > > to distribute Fair Vote Canada flyers on the seats in the 
> theatre. 
> > > I'd printed off 250 flyers, plus sheets of the FVC petition for 
> > > candidates and audience members to sign (was hoping to ask a 
> > > question at the mic on ER/PR).
> > >
> > > When I arrived at the ACM venue, I asked permission of 
> the manager 
> > > to distribute my flyers on the theatre seats.
> > >
> > > Denied.
> > >
> > > So I asked permission to distribute the flyers outside, 
> at the front 
> > > of the building.
> > >
> > > Denied again.
> > >
> > > Even the purportedly public sidewalk fronting the building was 
> > > off-limits....
> > >
> >
> > I'm purely curious, so don't take this as aggressive or 
> accusatory at
> > all: why did you ask?
> >
> > In a similar situation I honestly don't think it would've 
> occurred to 
> > me to ask anyone before starting to put flyers on seats, and if 
> > someone decided to get their knickers in a twist about it I don't 
> > think I would've thought to ask about distributing them outside 
> > either.  The sidewalk is, as you say, public space.
> >
> > Anyway -- just curious about your thinking, because I'm 
> involved with 
> > hosting ACMs in my riding and I would like to avoid discouraging 
> > people's participation in whatever form (flyers, questions, etc.), 
> > whether deliberately or accidentally.
> >
> > Robyn
> >
> 
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