Summary We, a group of concerned neighbours and residents, urge Victoria City Council and BC Housing to provide better solutions for those experiencing homelessness in our neighbourhood park. We ask that all sheltering be prohibited in Stadacona Park, Fernwood’s largest greenspace. We would like to see this occur well ahead of the spring 2023 opening of a new children’s playground in the park, to allow time for remediation of the park.

About Stadacona Park Stadacona Park is bordered by Pandora Avenue, Belmont Avenue, Elford Street and Begbie Street.  It features large, mature trees, garden beds, open lawn areas and meandering paths.   Tennis courts, public washrooms and a playground are available for park visitors. Much of the park has been provincially designated a Sensitive Ecosystem Inventory (SEI) area.  

Stadacona Park was once a vibrant gathering place for people from the local community and surrounding neighbourhoods. Here, under the shade of towering Garry Oak trees, elders met to learn Tai Chi and people took sun and read on park benches. Youngsters played frisbee-golf on the flat grass area and people learned and practiced yoga.  Families enjoyed picnics and small children ran amongst the large trees and frolicked on the playground equipment. All that has ended.

Sheltering/camping in Stadacona A directive from the City of Victoria permitted “shelter in place” camping at Stadacona during the COVID-19 provincial state of emergency. This extended the 12-hour, 7:00pm-7:00am sheltering bylaw to 24 hours, 7 days a week. This directive expired on May 1, 2021, with the end of the state of emergency, and sheltering in the park was legally returned to the 12-hour, 7:00pm-7:00 am bylaw. But 24/7 sheltering in the park continues. 

Impacts of sheltering/camping in Stadacona Park on the unhoused Drug overdoses, deaths, violent crimes against the unhoused, exposure to extreme weather conditions, and lack of critical services have impacted those who shelter in the park. 

Impacts of sheltering/camping on area residents The use of Stadacona Park as a permanent, rule-free, 24/7 shelter has had and continues to have troubling impacts for area residents. For the past three summers Stadacona Park has experienced large, shifting encampments of unhoused individuals. Stadacona park no longer functions as a safe greenspace for the residents who live in the houses, small rental apartments, condominiums, and other multi-unit homes beside it and nearby. Individuals and families are fearful to use the park or even walk in the neighbourhood, choosing instead to walk around the park's perimeter.

Threats have been made against residents, including a threat to burn down an adjacent residence. Bylaw officers, who will not enter the park without a two-officer police escort, appear helpless to enforce the bylaw.

Other impacts include: 

●      Break and enter into cars, above and underground, in areas near the park.
●      Extreme fire danger from smoking, open-flame candles to melt crack-rock in dry brush 
●      Break and enter into indoor storage areas in buildings near the park. 
●      Shouting of obscenities and loud music at all hours.
●      Intimidation of area residents, including threats to burn down a home.
●      Ignition of bear bangers, day and night, against noise bylaws.
●      Public urination and defecation.
●      Open consumption of alcohol and drugs, including injectables.
●      Needles, crack pipes left scattered around park.
●      Housing of violent offenders, for example.
●      Tents erected adjacent to playground, against City bylaw. 
●      Erection of tents, tarps, etc. in prohibited areas of the park, 24/7 against City bylaw.

A new children's playground is coming A modern, accessible playground is scheduled to open in Stadacona Park next spring in one of the areas occupied by large tent structures, tarps, bicycles, and garbage. This playground will replace a dated structure and swings that were installed in the park in 1995 and will include in-ground trampolines, swings, including a wheelchair swing, and other fun and engaging playground features.

End sheltering/camp now  We call upon the City to prohibit any and all sheltering at any time in the park NOW. We call upon the City to remediate and restore this valuable greenspace for the more than 10,000 Fernwood residents, most of whom represent young families and the elderly.  We want the new children’s playground to be constructed on clean land and for families and children to feel safe playing there. We urge the City of Victoria and BC Housing to create and implement better solutions to house those sheltering in Stadacona Park. Tents in parks are not acceptable substitutes for homes – for anyone. 

Thank you for signing the petition. 

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