Kitsilano park encampment sparks concern
Posted March 18, 2023 9:49 pm.
Last Updated March 19, 2023 8:51 am.
A Kitsilano resident is raising concern over two housing structures in Vancouver’s Vanier Park, but the man living in the park’s wooded area says he’d rather live outdoors than live in a single-room occupancy (SRO).
Adam shares the housing structure with others. He says he’s lived there for eight months and that, before this, he was living under a bridge for five years. Adam says he has always liked living in nature.
“It’s more comfortable for me and freer, right.”
However, Elvira Lount is concerned about the situation- such as the risk of fire.
“The city and the park board need to come in, confiscate all the propane tanks so there will be no cooking or heating of the structures and the likely use of wood for the structures. So, that is highly dangerous. And also, a clean up of all the garbage around here. So those are two things that could be done right away.”
Lount runs a community group on Facebook called “Keep Kits Beach Wild.” She hopes the city can offer other living accommodations.
“If the city can’t find housing right now for two people living in a park forest, you know, then what can they do?”
A spokesperson for the Vancouver Parks Board says they are aware of the situation. The board says that the bylaw allows for temporary overnight sheltering in all parks. These shelters must be taken down and moved by 8 a.m. each day. The bylaw states that temporary shelters cannot be within 25 metres of a playground or school, or at beaches, sports fields, golf courses, community centres, and off-leash dog areas.
But Adam says he wouldn’t take an SRO even if the city were to offer him housing.
“If it’s an SRO, no. I’ve dealt with a lot of things. They go in, and that’s the rules. I try to help out as much as I can there. For the most part, I don’t agree with them,” Adam said. “I just never saw anything good come out of it.”
For now, Adam doesn’t plan on leaving and says he’s happy where he is.
