Note: sadly, as of last week of June, tents were seen in the Park, near Douglas.
Thank you to those who fought for Beacon Hill Park
(script formed basis of my comments at Council when Beacon Hill Park designated for no sheltering, June 2023)
On June 15, 2023, City of Victoria Council forwarded staff recommendations to prohibit overnight sheltering in Beacon Hill Park. While the debate has not yet concluded, it is timely to recognize the many who fought to have the terms of the 1882 Beacon Hill Park Trust honoured.
March 2020, when our world was put on hold due to the pandemic, the number of people sheltering in our parks grew. Those sheltering included many who were mental ill or dealing with addictions, or who could not afford housing, and many criminals. The gathering of people in our parks created nightmares for many sheltering in the parks, and those living near-by. People from across BC and other provinces began migrating to Victoria parks.
As hundreds settled into Beacon Hill Park, many worked to protect Beacon Hill Park. Special thanks to:
- Bylaw officers, VicPD, and other City staff who assisted many of us and the park;
- Cynthia Diadick who started and cared for the Petition to Save the Park which gathered over 30,000 signatories;
- Roy Fletcher who led the “Friends” Board which initiated a legal initiative to challenge the use of the park for encampments;
- Tom Epplett who leads the current “Friends” Board which represented the values of the Beacon Hill Park Trust in the Province’s challenge of Justice Punnett’s decision;
- and the many residents who value Beacon Hill Park, and supported those who took the lead, through writing letters to the Times Colonist, speaking on CFAX call-in shows, posting on social media, and donating to the “Friends”.
Strength and commitment of the people who live here, the people who care about our community’s well-being, came through.
Thank you all.
The Journey: Sheltering in Beacon Hill Park during the Covid-19 Pandemic
March 2020, when our world was put on hold due to the pandemic, the number of people sheltering in our parks grew. People from across BC and other provinces began migrating to Victoria parks.
March 23, 2020: Mayor Helps announced three parks selected for sheltering: Beacon Hill, Topaz, and Royal Athletic.
March 25, 2020: Following Mayor Helps interview on CFAX JBNA sought assurance that those with drug addictions, mental health issues, and other medical issues, would be cared for in Royal Athletic Park and those permitted to tent at Beacon Hill sports field would not have addictions or other health issues. Mayor Helps replied “yes, this is what we are aiming for”.
March 25, 2020: Dr Stanwick of Island Health stated that Beacon Hill Park should not be used for sheltering during the pandemic.
March 26, 2020: Mayor Helps said sheltering would not occur in Beacon Hill Park.
March through April, 2020: An encampment was established in Topaz Park, run by the Coalition to End Homelessness. This encampment soon entered crisis stage; campers were directed to Beacon Hill Park. By May 21, Topaz no longer had people sheltering.
April, 25, 2020: By order of the Provincial Government, BC Housing lead an initiative to move those on Pandora and Topaz into more secure temporary housing, primarily in motel rooms.
May, 2020: Victoria City Council voted to permit 24/7 sheltering in parks. Many Parks staff refused to work in Beacon Hill Park due to threats and unsafe conditions.
March 2020 through 2021: Residents, particularly of James Bay, endured break-ins, physical assaults, threats, harassment, fires . . . women were targeted for harassment. Residents were beaten up within a block of their homes. City staff faced intimidation, threats and other negative impacts. Park users, be those sheltering or wanting to recreate in the park, endured terrible things . . . and the park itself endured damages. Drugs. … guns … fires . . . deaths.
June 12, 2020: Cynthia Diadick, of Douglas Street, and friend from Fairfield, started a petition.
July 21, 2020: Victoria Council discussed the Application for an Interim Injunction intended to relocate campers within Beacon Hill Park to less sensitive areas of the park: granted July 28.
July 27, 2020: Premier John Horgan disagreed with Victoria’s decisions stating “There is a bylaw in place that says you can’t camp over during the day, you have to fold up camp in the morning . . . The city is responsible for their bylaws, and they can and should manage them.”
August, 2020: The Friends of Beacon Hill Park Society (the “Friends”) initiated legal steps to contest the City’s decision to allow 24/7 sheltering and started a campaign to raise funds.
September, 2020: About 200 people (about 100 tents/vehicles) were sheltering in the Park.
January 6, 2021: Victoria Council approved a grant for a “Care Tent” to be located on Avalon. The short narrow street has small houses and multi-residential seniors’ buildings. The site of the “Care Tent” was changed to Cook Street.
May 1, 2021: 24/7 sheltering in parks officially ended (Province/City agreement).
July 8, 2021: The City amended the sheltering bylaw to ban overnight camping in Beacon Hill Park until 2023.
September 23, 2021: Proceedings for the City’s court case, with Justice Robert Punnett presiding, concluded.
February 24, 2022: The Supreme Court of B.C. advised that sheltering in Beacon Hill Park by people experiencing homelessness was not consistent with the terms of the Beacon Hill Park Trust.
March 25, 2022: The Province announced it would appeal Justice Punnett’s Supreme Court opinion. The Friends once again forwarded interests of the Beacon Hill Park Trust.
February 21, 2023: The Province’s appeal of Justice Punnett’s decision was dismissed.