Occupational fun

Long-time housing activist group FRAPRU will be staging a series of peaceful, non-violent occupations of vacant buildings and lots next week in six Montreal neighbourhoods, but will be bringing some festival fanfare with them.

FRAPRU coordinator François Saillant says the planned occupations are designed to do two things: “First, we want to denounce the housing crisis,” he says. “It’s never been so extensive or severe, and it touches everyone who is having problems paying the rent. Second, we’re demanding that the Quebec government build 8,000 units of social housing in the province per year, with 3,500 of them in Montreal.”

Strong words, but tempered by a sense of restraint and community spirit. According to Saillant, each occupation, which he says are shy of 100 per cent legality, has been brought to the attention of area residents and merchants. “We are assuming the actions won’t be violent and we won’t disturb people,” he says. “We want it to be a kind of joyous, festive occasion, with street theatre and family events. Anyone who is interested in the issue is invited to participate.”

Next week’s occupations, in conjunction with actions in Quebec City, Sherbrooke, Gatineau, the Saguenay and St-Rémi outside Chateauguay, begin on May 12 in Côte-des-Neiges. Other neighbourhoods on the hit list are Hochelaga-Maisonneuve (May 13), Parc Ex (May 14), Villeray (May 14), St-Henri (May 15) and Centre-Sud (May 16). Check out www.frapru.qc.ca or call 522-1010 for precise dates and times. :

—Patrick Lejtenyi