Advertisement

Chilliwack RV encampment cleared to make way for flood protection

Click to play video: 'Moving day for Chilliwack encampment'
Moving day for Chilliwack encampment
It is eviction day for dozens of people living in a Fraser Valley squatters camp, some of them for years. It's on First Nations land, and as Alissa Thibault reports, the band says the property is needed for other purposes – Feb 1, 2024

Dozens of people were left figuring out their next steps after being evicted from an RV encampment on First Nations-owned land in Chilliwack, B.C., on Thursday.

The property on Island 22 is owned by the Shxwhá:y Village, and is slated to be used for a new dike that will protect the Indigenous community and Chilliwack more broadly.

Last month, the Shxwhá:y Village gave the people living there until Jan. 31 to vacate the property. On Thursday, police, representatives from the city, the First Nation and social services were on hand to enforce the order.

“It’s overwhelming, it’s a lot of emotions,” said Heather Whitford, who has lived on the property with her partner and cat for about two years.

“We knew it was coming, we just didn’t really know what to do, what our next steps were.”

Story continues below advertisement
Click to play video: 'Residents of Chilliwack RV encampment told to leave'
Residents of Chilliwack RV encampment told to leave

A small number of people began living on the site about seven years ago, but the encampment has recently grown to include as many as 50 people.

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Some have been living in trailers, while others, like Kevin Isaac, have built shelters on the property.

“It was nice at first, until all these guys moved in, because there was only like five or six of us here,” Isaac said.

“Every time we went to sleep somebody new moved in, two or three of them.”

Shxwhá:y Village Chief Robert Gladstone said he was originally unaware that people were living on the property, but ” inside of a year it just exponentially blew up.”

Gladstone said the Shxwhá:y Village is working with the City of Chilliwack and the provincial and federal governments to build a dike through the site, and now needs the land back.

Story continues below advertisement

The encampment site itself is to be used as a staging area for gravel and aggregate for the dike.

“We’re trying to clear this, as we’ve said, in the most humane way. We’re human beings, we’re compassionate,” he said.

Click to play video: 'UBC report criticizes courts’ handling of tent encampment injunctions'
UBC report criticizes courts’ handling of tent encampment injunctions

The Shxwhá:y Village has been working with outreach and BC Housing since June to find people places to go, and has donated $5,000 to a local social support agency to help those who are being displaced.

Upper Fraser Valley RCMP Cpl. Carmen Kiener said police were there to keep the peace.

She said some people living there had already vacated the site, but that dozens of others were being ordered to leave on Thursday.

“It’s not healthy and it’s not safe. There’s no running water, there’s no electricity and there’s no sanitation, so of course we have concerns from a health and safety perspective,” she said.

Story continues below advertisement

Encampment residents Global News spoke with Thursday said they didn’t know what they would do next.

“I’ve never been homeless in my life, this is the first time,” Whitford said.

“The rent, trying to get a place right now is extremely hard … Who is going to want to bring in a couple with a cat?”

Isaac said he was considering heading back to Boston Bar, where he lived before Chilliwack.

Gladstone said he hoped to see dike construction begin in the next low-water season.

Sponsored content

AdChoices