From: brewnoser2@gmail.com   
      
   > Black Friday brings massive crowds, multiple fights to Calgary mall   
   >   
   > Despite new provincial restrictions introduced this week, large crowds   
   descended on Chinook Centre during Black Friday sales — and Calgary police   
   say a couple of instances quickly got out of control.   
   >   
   > Multiple fights broke out Friday evening, police confirmed, and officers   
   escorted a "whole bunch" of unruly patrons out of the facility. No charges   
   were laid.   
   >   
   > At this point, Calgary police Staff Sgt. Mike Calhoun said the emphasis   
   remains on education rather than enforcement — but that could change.   
   >   
   > "We're starting on giving warnings," Calhoun said. "If we're starting to see   
   [people] not complying, we'll move to enforcement."   
   >   
   > Cadillac Fairview, which owns the mall, said a group of youth "impeded   
   traffic flow and caused disturbances" throughout the mall, which resulted in   
   numerous police officers attending the site to escort them from the facility.   
   >   
   > "We will continue to work closely with CPS, who will have a presence again   
   on site today and support our efforts to ensure customers' shopping experience   
   and safety is not hindered," Cadillac Fairview said in a statement.   
   >   
   > The company said it was actively monitoring capacity levels throughout the   
   holiday shopping season to fall in line with the province's new restrictions.   
   >   
   > The facility has also implemented additional measures like enhanced cleaning   
   protocols, signage, directional arrows and installation of barriers where   
   required.   
   > 'It makes me feel awful'   
   >   
   > Taylor Tuffnell, who works in the mall, said she saw multiple "huge   
   gatherings" of shoppers moving through the hallways.   
   >   
   > "All of a sudden, another huge wave started happening," Tuffnell said. "So I   
   was like, this is awful! So I'm going to do something [about] this, because   
   this shouldn't be happening right now."   
   >   
   > In a recording shared to social media, Tuffnell captured the busy hallways   
   within the facility, a scene that wouldn't look out of place in a regular year.   
   >   
   > "It is Black Friday, so we were expecting the mall to be pretty busy," she   
   said. "[But we had] people hanging out, talking in the hallways, blocking   
   entrances and lineups. That's basically what [the posts were] showcasing, just   
   how many people were    
   chilling at the mall."   
   >   
   > Tuffnell said it's hard to say how this year might compare to Black Fridays   
   of years past, but said it "felt like so much more" because many were chatting   
   and hanging out instead of shopping.   
   >   
   > "It made me feel awful. I love my store, I love my job, I love going to work   
   every day," she said. "But I am also filled with this overwhelming anxiety   
   when I see these situations, because I have family too.   
   >   
   > "To see people taking it lightly and hanging out in malls, instead of going   
   out for essentials for Christmas shopping, holiday shopping, it's so   
   disheartening."   
   >   
   > more fun stuff from Calgary:   
   > https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/chinook-centre-mike-cal   
   oun-taylor-tuffnell-calgary-mall-1.5820689   
      
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