People Sue University of Calgary and Police

May 11, 2026, 20:00
CanadaPolitics

Introduction

Nine people are suing the University of Calgary, the police, and the city. This is because the police removed a protest camp in May 2024.

Main Body

Students made a camp on May 9, 2024. They wanted the university to stop giving money to companies in Israel. The university said the camp was not safe. The police removed the camp very quickly. The people who sue say the police were too violent. They say the police used sticks and chemicals. Some people got hurt and felt very sad. They say the police broke the law. The university says the police did the right thing. A special team looked at the event. They did not find proof of big injuries. The university and police do not want to talk more now.

Conclusion

The people want more than $331,000 in money. They also want the court to say their rights were broken.

Learning

πŸ•’ The 'Past Story' Pattern

When we tell a story about something that already happened, we often change the action word by adding -ed.

Look at these changes from the text:

  • Want β†’\rightarrow Wanted*
  • Remove β†’\rightarrow Removed*
  • Look β†’\rightarrow Looked*

Wait! Some words are rebels. They don't use -ed:

  • Make β†’\rightarrow Made*
  • Say β†’\rightarrow Said*
  • Get β†’\rightarrow Got*
  • Do β†’\rightarrow Did*

Quick Tip for A2: If you see a date like May 9, 2024, your brain should immediately switch to these 'Past' versions of words to describe the event.

Vocabulary Learning

people (n.)
a group of individuals
Example:People gather in the square.
university (n.)
a place of higher learning
Example:She studies at the university.
police (n.)
law enforcement officers
Example:The police arrived quickly.
city (n.)
an urban area
Example:The city is busy.
protest (n.)
a public demonstration
Example:They joined a protest.
camp (n.)
a temporary shelter
Example:They set up a camp in the woods.
students (n.)
people who study at school
Example:Students work hard.
money (n.)
currency used for buying things
Example:He saved money for a trip.
companies (n.)
business organizations
Example:Many companies hire interns.
Israel (n.)
a country in the Middle East
Example:Israel has many historic sites.
safe (adj.)
free from danger
Example:The playground is safe.
removed (v.)
taken away or eliminated
Example:The police removed the sign.
quickly (adv.)
fast, at a rapid pace
Example:She ran quickly to catch the bus.
violent (adj.)
using force or aggression
Example:The fight was violent.
sticks (n.)
short pieces of wood
Example:They used sticks to build a fire.
chemicals (n.)
substances with specific properties
Example:Chemicals can be dangerous if handled poorly.
hurt (v.)
to cause injury or pain
Example:He got hurt during the game.
sad (adj.)
feeling unhappy
Example:She looked sad after the news.
law (n.)
rules set by a government
Example:The law says you must wear a seatbelt.
court (n.)
a place where legal cases are decided
Example:The court will hear the case next week.