Image: Supplied by Ross Aikenhead / The outside of an abandoned trailer near Borden Creek, east of Chilliwack, and south of Chilliwack Lake Road. Volunteers continue to press the Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resources Operations to take action on these deplorable encampments in the Chilliwack River Valley.
Borden Creek encampment

Unsightly homeless encampment documented near Borden Creek east of Chilliwack

Jan 5, 2023 | 9:43 AM

CHILLIWACK — It’s an uphill battle in every sense of the word for Chilliwack-area volunteers who are simply trying to retain the natural beauty of the Chilliwack River Valley, its picturesque terrain, its panoramic trails, and the pristine creeks that traverse swaths of remote land.

According to pictures taken by Derrick Kramer, and released by Wayne Furness and Ross Aikenhead Thursday morning (Jan. 5), disturbing images have emerged showing yet another abandoned homeless encampment containing a trailer with endless junk and toxic household effects inside, in the proximity of an abandoned vehicle that appears to be missing part of its engine.

Image: Ross Aikenhead / The inside of an abandoned trailer in the Chilliwack River Valley.

This abandoned encampment is located west of Borden Creek Forest Service Road, south of Chilliwack Lake Road, in a remote setting far removed from most motorists traveling east and west, closer to Nursery Creek.

Volunteers continue to not only document the location and description of each homeless encampment in the Chilliwack River Valley, whether inhabited or abandoned, but also lobby a Chilliwack-area manager with the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources Operations and Rural Development, Mike Peters.

Image: Ross Aikenhead / Abandoned vehicle near Borden Creek. It appears to be a Nissan 4-door sedan, with engine parts and components stripped.

In late December, Furness, Aikenhead, and volunteers with Streams Canada Foundation based in Chilliwack, were successful in cleaning up an abandoned homeless encampment on the north side of Chilliwack Lake Road approximately 4.5 kilometres east of the Tamihi Recreation Site.

However, they have since documented another abandoned homeless encampment farther east on Chilliwack Lake Road, and have since released pictures of this abandoned encampment near Borden Creek. There are at least nine homeless encampments in the Chilliwack River Valley, east of the Tamihi Recreation Site, located on dirt roads north and south of Chilliwack Lake Road.