On Nov. 15, Park Board rangers descended on Crab Park dismantling tents outside the designated area. Ultimately, it resulted in violence, arrests, and people belongings being tossed.
The BC Supreme Court, faced with a housing crisis, established the right to shelter in parks. Crab Park was designated as an overnight and daytime sheltering space. Recently, Bill 45 threatened this and backlash to it prompted Premier Eby to temporarily withdraw sections dealing with encampments (Katie DeRosa/Post Media)
Fiona York, advocate/Crab Park Encampment, shares with CFRO why tent encampments are essential. The most recent (2023) homeless count demonstrated a 32 per cent increase in this population (notably seniors). York says both diverse and accessible housing are needed and notes that the unhoused are from diverse backgrounds including artists, mental health challenges, substance use issues, and loss of employment. A predictable disproportionate percentage are indigenous coping with systemic racism. Crab Park currently shelters 10 to 150 people.
Premier Eby withdraws sections from Bill 45 on encampments, advocates weigh in
