Tent dwellers dig in behind barricades
Several remain despite injunction ordering them to vacate parking lot
Barricades have gone up at CRAB Park, a wall of pallets separating a tent city of the homeless from the road and whatever comes down it.
The number of tents has declined to less than 30, from a peak of 96, before the Port of Vancouver successfully sought an injunction for the tent dwellers to leave a vacant parking lot between CRAB Park and the Helijet terminal.
But about another 25 or so tents have gone up on the empty lot adjacent to the port parking lot just to the west. The chain-link fence has had two sections cut out and a makeshift bridge built to accommodate movement between the two sites.
“The people who have left have moved back to the streets,” said
Fiona York, an advocate for homeless people. “The people here are maintaining a presence. Part of the reason the barricades are here is to provide a place for everyone here. We’re asking for housing for everyone, but also the people are here in recognition that this land is unceded territory.”
They’re also asking that a healing centre be created.
The space is symbolic for the protesters: In 1984, protesters in tents occupied the site for 75 days, demanding a park and beach for area residents. The city eventually leased the land from the port and created a 3.31-hectare green space.
But the port is expanding, cutting off views from the current park. Vancouver city council and the park board have both supported the expansion of the park westward onto the parking lot currently being occupied.
The land is owned by the port. An injunction was granted in B.C. Supreme Court on Wednesday giving protesters 72 hours to vacate. That deadline came and went Saturday afternoon, when some Black Lives Matter protesters showed up in support of the campers.
On Monday morning, meanwhile, police removed Black Lives Matter protesters from the Georgia Street Viaduct. Seven protesters were arrested, according to the police.
When asked for comment about the CRAB Park protesters, a VPD spokesman said: “We’re expecting everyone to comply with the court-ordered injunction and are working to assess next steps.”
On Monday, a “sacred fire” burned in the middle of the tent city. Visitors were encouraged to offer cedar leaves and tobacco to the flames. On West Waterfront Road, between the train tracks and the occupied parking lot, volunteers prepared hot meals.
York said she didn’t know where the pallets for the barricades came from, but that they were evidence of the resourcefulness of the protesters.
Homeless shelters and SROs are packed, despite B.C. Housing having secured more than 800 spaces for temporary accommodation since March.
“The majority are occupied,” B.C. Housing spokeswoman Laura Mathews said. “There are limited numbers of spaces available. We know there is an urgent need for housing and we continue to look (for more spaces).”
In a statement, the port acknowledged there are complex social and public health issues involved with the tent encampment, and that it would co-ordinate with authorities to “ensure any and all actions are taken peacefully and respectfully.”