Local and national law enforcement waved the G7 Summit away with statements of success, citing the support of residents and partners as crucial aspects of the operation.
Collaborators of the Integrated Safety Security Group (ISSG) convened at Calgary Police Service (CPS) headquarters on June 18 to review and discuss the effectiveness of their efforts in safeguarding both public and private spaces during the convention.
Between June 14 and 18, more than 3,500 people flew into Calgary for the event. To check all of their protective boxes, the CPS worked with Alberta Sheriffs, the Canadian Armed Forces, and provincial conservation officers to comprise an ISSG led by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Chief Superintendent of the RCMP, David Hall, was appointed event security director for the duration of the G7 Summit. He said that apart from a few kinks in their agenda, the convention was smooth sailing.
“The success of this complex operation would not be possible without the support of residents and our partners,” said Hall.
Aside from guarding and transporting delegates, he said that their overall goal was to minimize the disruption for residents of Kananaskis Country and Calgary. This meant limiting access to certain camping and hiking locations, prohibiting unapproved flying devices, and offering designated demonstration zones.
Performance review: G7 Summit security efforts
On June 15, Hall said that a private aircraft was found violating the no-fly zone over Kananaskis Country. This prompted the Royal Canadian Air Force to deploy CF-18 Hornets of their own, which met the pilot and encouraged him to land safely in Brooks, Alta.
Hall said that the pilot was not taken into custody and that he has not been charged. He said that it is premature to say for sure, but that if the pilot is to be criminally charged, this would be the RCMP’s jurisdiction.
“However, there are other regulatory offences which may be more appropriate to the circumstance,” Hall said.
“Those would be managed by other agencies, such as transportation.”
That same Sunday, he said that the downtown core saw about 17 groups protesting different causes. Hall said that he expected the number of demonstrations to be higher, as they were in 2002, but that he believes a lot has changed since then.
“I think people are still concerned about the same types of issues,” he said.
“Rather than demonstrating by person, technology allows people from all parts of the world to reach in and express their views and information.”
Hall said that no arrests in relation to the G7 Summit were made, and celebrated the combined efforts of the ISSG’s meticulous planning.
However, CPS Supt. Joe Brar said that one arrest was made in the downtown vicinity, but that this has not yet been determined in connection to the convention.
“Zones where those choosing to express themselves largely conducted themselves in a lawful, peaceful and safe manner,” said Hall.
Superintendent Bryan Sundberg with Alberta Forestry and Parks said that within the dates of the convention, around 200 wildlife incidents were reported — half of which included grizzly and black bears — but that none of them were serious.
“I’m very happy to say that all of those were minor in nature,” he said.
“We were able to take minimal action to move the risk away for both wildlife and affairs.”
Hall said that the specific number of law enforcement officers and the financial expense of hiring them for the Summit are not yet available, but are expected to be released at a later date.
