An advocate for greater harmony between natives and non-natives got more than she bargained for after sending members of city council brown envelopes containing white gloves and other items with pointed messages.
Marilyn Vegso, co-founder of TRUE (Two Row Understanding for Education), said she was “flabbergasted” to learn Sunday that police were driving around the city, collecting what she called “creative statements” of her concern that council was being heavy-handed in its handling of protests and occupations surrounding the issue of unresolved land claims.
“They’re paranoid,” said Vegso, an East Avenue resident. “They’re overreacting way too much. I would never do anything that would hurt anyone.”
The officers were dispatched after some councillors and city solicitor Larry Tansley called police to register their concern.
Tansley had also sent an e-mail to all members of council advising them not to open the envelope, and that if they already have, to put it aside and call the police collect it.
“I have spoken to Deputy Chief Jeff Kellner about my concern for your safety and to request that the gloves be collected to check that they are not infected with any hazardous substance or biological agent,” Tansley continued.
“He has agreed to do so and conduct the necessary investigation. I do not mean to worry anyone, and I certainly have no knowledge that the envelopes are hazardous in the any way, but I believe it is important to be careful.”
Vegso said she sent her envelopes merely because she was upset with council’s decision to pursue injunctions and prosecutions as a way of clamping down on a series of native protests and work stoppages at construction sites throughout the city, and wanted to convey her sentiments.
So last week she put in each of 11 brown envelopes a white work glove with a message running from the wrist along the index figure, reading “Stop heavy-handed tactics against Six Nations land protecters. (sic)”
She put two gloves in the envelope meant for Coun. James Calnan, with a different message saying: “Give yourself a hand for doing the right thing. Good job.”
That message was in reference to Calnan’s recent break with council over its injunction policy, and his highly public criticism of his colleagues’ actions, which has sometimes included relating comments given in confidence .
In the envelope for Hancock, Vegso also inserted a toy microphone bearing the message “Dialogue, not injunctions.”
Vegso put her name and address on the upper left-hand corner of each envelope, then she walked them unsealed into city hall and requested that they be sent to all the appropriate politicians.
Councillors reacted with varying degrees of concern when they opened their envelopes.
“I looked at it and set it aside,” said Hancock. “I suppose it could be inferred as threatening but I have no reason to believe anything untoward was intended. It reflects an opinion on something, but I get a lot of opinions. I regard this one as just another viewpoint arriving at my desk.”
Coun. Vince Bucci said he considered the statement an individual’s opinion. “I didn’t react either way.”
Coun. Marguerite Ceschi-Smith said she was alarmed to receive a message in that fashion.
“Given the tensions that exist right now about these issues, yes it does cause me some concern,” she said.
“I understand people have to be free to express themselves, but this was a very graphic way to do it.”
Coun. Greg Martin said he briefly looked over his glove, then laughed and threw it in the garbage.
Coun. Mark Littell said he was merely surprised at the message.
“I don’t know why someone would think we’re being heavy-handed,” he said.
“I wasn’t intimidated, not even a little bit. The sender had put her name on the envelope. I just thought this is a misinformed woman.”
Still, he and Coun. Jennifer Kinneman phoned city solicitor Larry Tansley early Sunday to get a legal opinion.
Tansley called police and sent the e-mail that put the chain of events into motion.
As the afternoon wore on, Vegso said she couldn’t believe that her good intentions could go so wrong.
“I don’t see how that could possibly be taken as a threat,” she said. “It was simply a creative way to gain their attention.”