CALGARY�Calgary police are gearing up for maximum security during the World Petroleum Congress, which begins June 11 in the city. Police Inspector Murray Stooke says protests and violence at the recent World Trade Organization conference in Seattle suggested that Calgary should plan for large-scale demonstrations and civil disobedience at the 6-day WPC.
City police will be joined by contingents from the Edmonton police force and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the federal police force. The 1,450-member local force have been given protest awareness training.
WPC will draw high-profile participants from industries and governments around the world. More than 2,200 delegates from 80 countries are expected to attend.
Stooke said, on a scale of 1 to 10 in terms of security, Calgary has to plan for a 10.
There will be limited-access areas downtown during the conference. Merchants have been warned to take security precautions, and some oil companies in the city's center have beefed up security.
