The Occupy movement, rooted in a park off Wall Street in New York, has now spread in rhizomatic fashion to hundreds of other cities around the world. As Guillaume noted earlier this week, Montreal's Square Victoria can count itself among the occupied. Photographer and regular MP contributor Shannon Heather was downtown on the weekend.
She stood in the middle of the intersection at St. Catherine and McGill and let the entire mob pass by before she tagged along to Victoria Square to document the protest and festivities.

In fact, she's done so much documenting, we don't have room to show it all here. So be sure to check out her entire Occupy Montreal photo set, and also her coverage of the NYC occupation. We were also sent an interview with David Suzuki about his thoughts on Occupy Montreal (courtesy of Antoine de Brabant) so if pictures aren't your thing, enjoy the video.

Some signs were on point, conveying the message of the masses like in this case. However, some completely lacked in significance. A smiley face drawn on a piece of paper does not a slogan make.

All ages and types were out making their point and joining in the cause. Does this young and determined angel remind anyone else of Les Miserables?

"I thought it was Tam-Tam's at first" said one attendee.

Nothing makes a statement like a big fat hamburger costume.

I commend those who brought their children rather than shielding them from the movement. Those who never learn about 'adult issues' will never know how to handle them; will never get to see that the masses can stand together.

The protesters were loosely packed and lackadaisical - perhaps too much so for the police that told those in the back to walk faster.

The crowd paused outside of the Centre De Commerce Mondial Montreal to make its protest heard before rejoining the occupation of Victoria Square across the street.

Outside the Centre De Commerce Mondial is where chants became louder; more serious; impassioned.

The organization of the central hub was quite impressive in its preparation.

People walked a fine line between showing pride in their provincial strength and lumping their cause onto another.

Here we have a beautifully executed statement, but is it the right one? This was not a protest brandishing the name of the Zeitgeist movement, and even though its goals are similar, is it right to speak for the people?

The CBC van was the only media outlet in sight, and as such was flocked-to.

The jubilant horn group was an unexpected delight, and a nice balance to the drumming we in Montreal have grown so accustomed to.

Protest signs and tenting seem at odds with cell-phones and Nike shoes, but the point is that we are all part of the system and it is one which we cannot escape. The system must be changed if any real change is to occur.

Food Not Bombs was busy feeding the masses healthy, nutritious and delectable concoctions with the help of many volunteers.