Image: Ralph Van Woerden, used with permission / An aerial view of the Island 22 homeless camp at 45645 Cartmell Road in Chilliwack as shown by Chilliwack helicopter pilot Ralph Van Woerden. Fraser Valley Today has learned that residents of the Island 22 homeless camp have been told that they need to move out from the property, but there's no definitive time frame for their exodus from the encampment at 45645 Cartmell Road in Fairfield Island.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Island 22 homeless camp

Island 22 homeless camp set to close, but time frame unknown

Nov 27, 2023 | 11:19 AM

CHILLIWACK — Fraser Valley Today has learned that residents of the Island 22 homeless camp will need to move out at some point, but there’s no definitive time frame for their exodus from the encampment at 45645 Cartmell Road in Fairfield Island.

According to an email sent to Chilliwack cleanup volunteer Ross Aikenhead, and reviewed by Fraser Valley Today, inhabitants of the Island 22 camp have been notified by the owner, Shxwhá:y Village, that everyone will have to leave the property. It is not known when residents would have to leave the property or when a cleanup of the property would occur.

According to the email shared by Aikenhead, city bylaw staff have reportedly been offering advice on how to deal with the eviction and cleanup, but have not been involved in clearing the site.

Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / A look at just some of the RVs and trailers at the Island 22 homeless camp at 45645 Cartmell Road in Chilliwack; this picture is from October 2023.

Fraser Valley Today received an email Monday afternoon from the City of Chilliwack after this story was published Monday morning. City staff indicated the land on which the Island 22 homeless camp is located is on private property.

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“The encampment is on private property and the decision to dismantle it is up to the property owner,” said Liana Wiebe of the city of Chilliwack. “The City of Chilliwack works with property owners to advise them on how they can bring their properties into voluntary compliance with City bylaws. As housing is not a provincial responsibility, the City has made BC Housing and local service providers that the individuals on this property may require services, but the City is not involved in the process or timing as it is private property.”

Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media

While it’s unknown where these individuals will go, the Chilliwack Lake Road corridor currently has several encampments. Aikenhead has compiled the following encampments east of the Vedder Bridge in the Chilliwack River Valley:

• Bush camp just east of Tamihi. Long term trailer with no insurance east of Allison Pool
• Old decrepit trailer at the old Thurston prison site
• Camper van with generator setup across from Cathy’s camp just before Thurston Meadows.
• Cathy’s camp across from Thurston Meadows.
• Long term RV just west of New Borden Forest Service Road.
• Long term RV just up New Borden Forest Service Road
• Just east of New Borden Forest Service Road, before Slesse Creek, are 3 RVs, 1 camper, 2 structures and 1 decrepit motor home. Saskatchewan RV back at Slesse Creek
• A motorhome from Pierce Creek is now at the Thurston prison site
• RV up Middle Creek Forest Service Road for a couple of months
• Long term (at least 7 years) on Chilliwack South Forest Service Road. Structures have been built and are dumping sewage straight into the river