Image: Submitted / A homeless camp in the Chilliwack River Valley is pictured. A Chilliwack River Valley resident, Renee Marlatt, has started a petition to get all levels of regional and provincial government to initiate some kind of action plan to mitigate the decrepit presence of homeless camps, many of which are causing untold damage to the environment through the actions of squatters who illegally occupy Crown land.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Chilliwack resident starts petition

Chilliwack resident starts petition to protect Chilliwack River Valley from homeless camps

Aug 1, 2023 | 11:04 AM

CHILLIWACK — Chilliwack River Valley resident Renee Marlatt came to her breaking point seeing homeless camps accompanied by toxic debris and other unsightly effects linger and proliferate along the Chilliwack Lake Road corridor east of town.

So, she took action by starting a petition to get all levels of regional and provincial government to initiate some kind of action plan to mitigate the decrepit presence of homeless camps, many of which are causing untold damage to the environment through the actions of squatters who illegally occupy Crown land.

Marlatt travels up and down Chilliwack Lake Road regularly and sees firsthand the increase in people camping along the roadway.

“That tells me no one is addressing this issue,” she said. “It’s not only the homeless but weekend warriors. There’s been destruction of natural habitat, cutting of trees, dumping waste and garbage into the river, bags and heaps of garbage and waste left behind and a collection of presumably stolen goods and junk. With no visible or observable changes in the last 7 years, the lack of action to address the problem creates permission for others to do the same behavior. By not removing the homeless camps along CLR, the government is allowing the dumping of human waste and garbage in our river. Not removing the camp creates a culture where it is ok and more follow suit.”

The petition on change.org has generated 306 signatures in support of her efforts.

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“I’ve watched increased usage and abuse of Chilliwack parks and trails the last seven years resulting in increased garbage, increased full-time campers and homeless [people], increased SAR, a complete disregard for our environment and the Chilliwack River, and an increase in fires each year,” Marlatt said.

She faults various provincial ministries for failing to take meaningful steps to address the homeless camps. For example, Marlatt says the Ministry of Transportation has ignored the issue by not putting up signage along Chilliwack Lake Road to prevent camping or parking in eco-sensitive areas along the river.

“The Ministry of Forests has not removed any homeless camps to my knowledge along Chilliwack Lake Road,” Marlatt said. “Some RV residents have been there for several years dumping waste into the river. The Ministry of Fisheries fails to protect our river from human waste and garbage dumping as a result of these homeless camps and weekend warriors. The province fails to fund garbage pick up during peak season/usage and relies on the community to clean up, while advertising our great province’s backcountry drawing in more people.”

Marlatt recently met with FVRD Area E director Patti MacAhonic and Tom Blackbird of Recreation Sites and Trails BC to see what kind of action could be taken by regional and provincial authorities.

“I am very happy that people have been receptive to meeting with me and discussing my proposals,” Marlatt said. “It is clear there is no authority the Fraser Valley Regional District possesses to do much of anything to help other than provide access to government funds (one-time $200,000 grant) through non-profit groups. Unfortunately, I do not currently represent a non-profit and would need to partner with one to access funds from the grant. Tom agreed that homelessness, destruction to the river and dumping is a problem in Chilliwack River Valley. He expressed frustration with only being able to address the homeless camps in his designated areas of responsibilities. He expressed a willingness and eagerness to work with me to remove camps in his area of authority. He was supportive of my proposals and the petition to do more to help our river valley.”

As much as the meetings with government representatives are a step in the right direction, Marlatt says she ultimately wants measurable, observable outcomes and some degree of accountability from any level of government.

“Although I appreciate people meeting with me, I still feel like what I’m trying to do doesn’t make a difference,” Marlatt conceded. “I’m gathering information to build a road map of government responsibilities along the Chilliwack River/Chilliwack Lake Road. It seems like for the most part, people want to clarify how it’s not in their power to change anything. This leaves me feeling a bit defeated although I can appreciate the barriers the government frequently makes so there is no accountability.”

Image: Submitted / A homeless camp along the Chilliwack Lake Road corridor east of Chilliwack is shown containing unsightly effects and items strewn throughout the otherwise pristine backcountry.

Over the next year she hopes to see signage to protect eco-sensitive areas from homeless camps by the summer of 2024, secure funding for a pilot program for garbage collection along CLR on long weekends between May and September 2024, and hopes to see existing homeless camps responsible for dumping removed by this fall.

“I want to be part of the creation of a stewardship to protect Chilliwack River and sensitive habitat areas along Chilliwack Lake Road, and implement a 3-day camping pass for backcountry for $20 and see the funds dedicated to the conservation of Chilliwack River Valley,” Marlatt said. “I want to see someone claim responsibility and be proactive in declaring a state of emergency for homelessness in BC. It isn’t going to go away, it’s getting worse.”

by Mike Vanden Bosch

Chilliwack resident starts petition to protect Chilliwack River Valley from homeless camps

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