A Glebe bookstore is encouraging residents to ask candidates in Ottawa’s municipal election about their plans to address homelessness, affordability and mental health in the community after a break-in at the store this week. Octopus Books on Third Avenue says its store was broken into Wednesday night, with cash stolen from the register. In a post on Facebook, Octopus Books says, “It is clear this was an act of desperation, as only cash was stolen.” “As much as this impacts us, we are more concerned about the state of our community,” Octopus Books said. “Each day life in Ontario continues to be more unaffordable, while services continue to get defunded. This is a great time to remind local residents that Ottawa’s municipal election is coming up October 26th!” The bookstore asks residents to research the candidates in the October 26 municipal election for councillor and mayor. “Who is placing the needs of our community at the core of their campaign?” Octopus Books said. “Reach out to candidates and ask them how they plan on dealing with issues of affordability, housing, mental health, and homelessness in our community.” The post adds, “don’t forget to vote! (October 26)” On its website, Octopus Books says it is an “anti-oppressive bookstore that supports the liberation of all community members from explicit or implicit violence, colonialism, racism, sexism, ageism, transphobia, whorephobia, cissexism, ableism, fatphobia, sexual harassment, or gender policing.”
