Abbotsford Police, City of Abbotsford urge action on encampment; province says it’s making progress

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Bluesky
• Share on X
• Copy Link

“Common concerns relate to public safety, the deteriorated condition of the site, and the impact the encampment is having on neighbouring businesses and the surrounding community,” Sgt. Walker said. “Police continue to respond to calls for service both within the encampment and in the surrounding area where issues are connected to activity originating from the site. Abbotsford Police continue to enforce criminal offences occurring at or around the encampment. However, because the property is provincially owned, municipal bylaws are not enforceable on the site. As a result, there is no municipal bylaw mechanism available to compel the property owner, in this case the Province, to address or remediate the conditions on the property.”

Homeless encampment

Abbotsford Police, City of Abbotsford urge action on encampment; province says it's making progress

14m ago

Bridge repairs needed

Damage to Chilliwack FSR bridge raises concerns about emergency access in the CRV

56m ago

Suspicious fire

Chilliwack firefighters called to suspicious fire at vacant motel Wednesday night

11h ago

The Whatcom Road homeless encampment. (Image Credit: Mike Vanden Bosch.)

The City of Abbotsford has raised similar concerns about the encampment. Aletta Vanderheyden, communications and public relations manager for the City of Abbotsford, says the municipality has “repeatedly” raised concerns with the Ministry of Transportation and Transit (MOTT) about the conditions at the Whatcom Road Park and Ride and the need for timely, sustained action on these and other provincially-managed lands.

She says Mayor Ross Siemens has met with Premier Eby and Minister Farnworth to request immediate response at the Whatcom Road encampment, including the need to connect the individuals at this location with safe and stable housing options.

“The safety and wellness conditions at the Whatcom Park and Ride are unacceptable for both those living there and the surrounding community,” Vanderheyden said. “It’s important that encampments aren’t just dismantled and cleaned up but that the people who live in them are connected to meaningful, lasting support.

While responsibility for this work lies under provincial jurisdiction, the City of Abbotsford says it continues to support efforts wherever possible. Most recently, on September 1 the city invested $85,000 in federal Reaching Home funding through the Mennonite Central Committee to help prevent homelessness and support individuals transitioning from encampments into permanent housing.

“The City of Abbotsford values our positive working relationship with the Province, MOTT as well as with BC Housing, and we look forward to continuing to work with our provincial partners to find housing solutions for people in our community,” Vanderheyden said.

For its part, the province says it knows fully well that encampments are not safe for the people living there or for the surrounding community.

In a statement from the Ministry of Transportation and Transit, the province says it’s tried to remediate the camp through a couple measures.

“This is a challenging situation, but progress is being made. For example, last fall, provincial signage was removed to make it clear the site is no longer appropriate for public use and is not being maintained for that purpose,” the ministry wrote in a statement. “Fencing has also been installed as a proactive measure to secure the area and help mitigate debris accumulation. In addition, Ministry of Transportation and Transit staff are currently arranging debris removal to improve site conditions over the coming weeks.”

The Ministry of Transportation and Transit says it continues to work closely with the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs, the City of Abbotsford, law enforcement and community partners to develop short-term safety and security measures in the area while working to assess next steps for the longer term. 

“The priority is ensuring people who need it have access to support, shelter and pathways into stable, long-term housing,” the province said. “The Province has successfully relocated many individuals sheltering at other ministry sites, including Cole Road in Abbotsford this spring.”

Sgt. Walker wants the province to take action on both the garbage accumulation and the number of unsightly RVs and trailers that are frankly an eyesore.

“Residents and commuters deserve a clean, safe, and well-maintained public space. The current condition of the Whatcom Road Park & Ride falls well short of that expectation and has become a source of frustration for many community members,” he said. “We are calling on the province to take immediate action to remove the significant amount of garbage, debris, burned materials, and derelict RV structures that remain on the property. We are also urging the province to properly secure and fence off those portions of the site that are no longer being used in order to reduce further safety concerns and prevent additional deterioration.”

At the same time, Sgt. Walker says Abbotsford Police are not calling for the immediate displacement of the small number of individuals who remain at the site.

“We recognize that finding appropriate housing and support services is a complex issue that requires a thoughtful and coordinated response,” Sgt. Walker.