Court allows tent-city residents in Nanaimo to stay until Nov. 30

The B.C. Supreme Court has given campers at Nanaimo’s tent city, the largest in the province, until Nov. 30 to move out.

Justice Ronald Skolrood granted an extension to the estimated 300 residents still living on the municipally owned property. An earlier court ruling required them to leave by Oct. 12.

The ruling contained enough conditions and compromises that both the City of Nanaimo and tenters were proclaiming satisfaction.

“It [the court’s decision] essentially deals with the initial trespass issue and the safety issues on the site and in the neighbourhood,” said Nanaimo Mayor Bill McKay.

The judge agreed to a number of city-requested conditions designed to better protect public safety: • Vehicles and campers must be removed, and people under the age of 19 must leave. Fire safety protocols must be observed and those who fail to comply may be removed. • All those who are genuinely homeless must identify themselves to city officials by Oct. 25. Those who fail may be removed by police. • Finally, the order to leave by Nov. 30 must be followed — regardless of whether or not alternative housing is in place.

Sophie Wendling, who lives in a home in Nanaimo and acts as spokeswoman for Alliance Against Displacement, said it is a relief the tenters are not being moved out immediately.

However, she expressed concern that pledged social housing, promised for mid to late November, might not be in place.

The collection of tents, sometimes called “DisconTent City,” sprang up last spring.

Despite several attempts by the municipality to evict the tenters, citing concerns such as trespass and safety, the court has been reluctant to grant blanket permission to evict them.

Faced with the impasse, the municipal government supplied portable toilets as a public-health move, and the provincial government agreed to pay for modular housing and have it ready by the end of November.

Municipal lawyer Troy DeSouza said the latest court decision provides what the City of Nanaimo has wanted all along: the safe and staged removal of the tents.

DeSouza said the city was satisfied the judge agreed to its conditions in granting the extension.

“This decision provides the city [of Nanaimo] with some control,” he said.

“This provides for the smooth reduction of the numbers at tent city.”