Four police officers were called in Thursday night as protesters stood outside the latest Ajax mine workshop.

About 50 protesters, some carrying signs, gathered outside the Campus Activity Centre's Mountain Room where inside, Ajax officials were fielding questions from 80 people who had registered for the workshop.

Nathan Leduc put out a call for Ajax opponents to show up outside the room before the 6 p.m. workshop began.

He said Friday he's not a member of the main anti-Ajax group, the Kamloops Area Preservation Association (KAPA), nor was the association involved with organizing the protest.

"I grew up in this town and I really don't want to see it turn into a big giant mine site. I'm concerned about the toxins that will be coming off," he said.

The protesters were calm, chatting among themselves and some reading poetry out loud, he said.

"We weren't that loud or disruptive," he said. "We stood at the front doors, they called the cops, the cops came."

Three cruisers and four officers showed up.

"They just walked into the meeting, and asked what the problem was because somebody called them," he said.

The officers said to keep things peaceful and they left, he said.

KGHM Ajax community relations manager Norman Thompson said there was one protester who went into the workshop who wasn't registered.

But his presence and refusal to leave, and that of the protesters outside, prompted the call to police, he said.

"He said, no, call the police. So I did. There was no scuffle or anything. He was quiet," said Thompson, who didn't know who the man was.

"The protesters were peaceful. They were out there with signs. They were quiet and respectful."

At previous workshops, he has allowed people who haven't registered to enter if there's been room. But he didn't do that Thursday night because the protesters were outside with signs.

"The website said we want big dudes here, I took that as a threat. They were asking people to bring bullhorns, etc."

Thompson said his concern was for the people who were already in the workshop.

"These people were harassing those coming in, I heard," he said.

Had the protesters not been present, he would have allowed latecomers to stay.

"When those situations come up, you always err on the side of caution and safety."

Leduc said he was surprised the police were called, given the protest was peaceful.

"I was surprised they called the police. I'm also glad, it made them look silly."

Registration for the workshops is being required because the Environmental Assessment Office has asked KGHM to give priority to people living close to the mine site, particularly those in Aberdeen, Dufferin and Knutsford, Thompson said.

"So we've been mandated to do this," he said.