The University of Toronto is shutting down for the G20 summit.
The school decided to ban staff and students from its downtown campus from Thursday, June 24 to Sunday, June 27 after organizers moved the official protest site to Queen’s Park from Trinity Bellwoods Park, said Laurie Stephens, U of T’s director of media relations.
“We just want to make sure that our staff, faculty and students are safe during that period,” she said. “We’re going to try to disrupt them as little as possible.”
U of T’s administration made the decision on Friday afternoon and informed faculty and staff by memo the same day.
No classes are slated for the Thursday and Friday preceding the international gathering, but exams previously scheduled for those days will be moved, Ms. Stephens said.
About 2,000 students attend the summer session at the U of T’s downtown campus. Some live in dormitories near Queen’s Park and will be forced to move to other residences before and during the summit.
U of T is the latest institution to alter its plans for the summit to be held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
The CN Tower will close, the Toronto Blue Jays have moved to Philadelphia a series that would have marked the much-anticipated return of pitcher Roy Halladay, and downtown businesses and residents are girding for heavy security.
