The Loblaws in Kirkland, Quebec is the biggest store along the TransCanada on the island of Montreal. Many West Islanders do their weekend shopping there. Shortly before 11 am on August 27th, we set up a table about 15 m from the entrance and decorated the front and sides with pictures of animal species inhabiting the boreal forest. Information on Greenpeace, Shoppers guides, stickers and all kinds of leaflets on the Boreal forest as well as reports on Kimberly-Clark corporate practices were made available.
Then both of us each took one side of the double-sided entrance and started handing out Kleenex/Kleercut pamphlets to in-going shoppers. Lots and lots of people were streaming into the store at that time. Few of them came over to the table for more information.
About 30 minutes into the action the store manager made his appearance, apparently alerted by one of his young helpers to whom one of us had just handed a leaflet. The manager demanded to see a letter of authorization to have our stuff set up on the premises, which of course we could not produce. He then demanded to take down the banner and leave. We refused and got into a little argument, while continuing to hand out the leaflets. He threatened to call the police. Eventually we told him we would leave after two hours and he vanished back into his office, having placed his little helper strategically in the entrance to watch us. What a boring time the poor guy had!
Nothing much happened until 1.30 pm, when we decided to pack up. It was at that very moment that the cops drove around the corner and parked in front of the banner. The store manager came out to talk to the two policewomen, but we missed the details because of were too busy taking pictures and handing out information. They wrote down our personal details while we continued to pack up.
How nice of the store manager to leave us in peace for more than two hours. Perhaps we should write to him?
What’s next? Whoever lives in the West Island, visit the store and plaster stickers all over their Kleenex products!
Martina and Deborah are Kleercut activists kicking some Kimberly-Clark ass in Montreal.
