The fate of the Lower Patricia Boulevard encampment known as Moccasin Flats will ultimately be decided by the BC Supreme Court.
But maybe not until January.
Eric Depenau, the city’s director of administrative services, was asked at Monday’s city council meeting when the city will be going back to court to apply to permanently close the camp, which for the past two years has been a steady source of calls for service to police, fire, ambulance and city bylaw officers.
“I believe in June the timeline that was discussed was as early as Q4 of 2024, and of course we’re in November and are getting close to the end of that quarter, but we’re still looking at that December timeline,” said Depenau.
“But realistically that may be pushed into January.”
The city wants to permanently close the encampment and has tried to do so several times. But a Feb. 23, 2022 BC Supreme Court ruling legally prevents that from happening until the city can demonstrate camp residents can be accommodated in shelters or other indoor living spaces. The city also must show the court there are adequate daytime facilities for people without permanent homes.
“One of the challenges we have is so much of what need is about daytime facilities and shelter spaces and those really come down to assets owned and controlled by the provincial government, in a lot of cases,” said Depenau.
Coun. Brian Skakun said it should be left entirely to the city to provide daytime facilities for people, some of whom are not allowed to remain in overnight shelters during the day.
“We’ve been tasked with so many things that aren’t our responsibility,” said Skakun.
“We don’t want to see people out in the cold, that’s for sure. But our role as a government is definitely not to find housing and things like that. It’s frustrating. Administration and bylaw services, I think, are doing the best they can and they’re doing a good job. Staff is doing the best they can with what we have and I look forward to us going to court and having our homework done, which I’m quite sure we will, and eventually having this encampment shut down.”
City staff developed a report in response to council’s Oct. 7 request for more information about safety issues of concern to residents of the Millar Addition and other neighbourhoods around Moccasin Flats.
The staff report, titled “Social Health – Issues Update,” was presented at Monday’s council meeting and it indicates calls for service and complaints from the Millar-Addition area remained modest through the summer months, which the city attributes to its proactive engagement efforts at Moccasin Flats.
Staff noted a significant reduction in hazardous materials that were being burnt in campfires at the site, the report notes a significant decrease in the number of individuals sheltering at the encampment, which has dropped from 44 in May to just 14 currently.
While that informal census showed just 14 campers, on a chilly Tuesday night this week 27 people slept in the Association Advocating for Women and Community (AWAC) warming centre in the building just north of the Moccasin Flats campsite, which provides food, drinks and shower facilities for camp residents.
The city is currently implementing a four-phase response plan to address the challenges posed by the encampment. As of now, the city is in Phase 1, which focuses on building capacity and mitigating hazards.
Plans are underway to transition to Phase 2, which will demonstrate to the Supreme Court the city’s capacity to facilitate alternative shelter solutions for those living at the encampment. Further communication with the public will occur once the court application is advanced and additional details are confirmed.
Other highlights of the report include:
Housing and shelter update
As of Oct. 11, all available spaces at Victoria Street Supportive Housing are fully occupied, reflecting ongoing demand for supportive housing in the area.
The city is operating 151 shelter beds, with six reserved for Moccasin Flats occupants.
The provincial government is providing B.C. Housing $4.1 million in funding to establish the Third Avenue Transitional Facility, which will have 43 units, built in Atco trailers. City council kickstarted the project when it approved $468,000 in funding to pay for sewer/water hookups and raise the ground level.
Once open, it will provide 24/7 staffing and various support services, including health care referrals and life skills training.
“We’re anticipating that opening very soon, it’s on-track, ready to go,” said Coun. Ron Polillo. “I think you’ll see people living there very soon. It’s going to have a significant impact and with that coming online I think you’ll see Lower Patricia encampment virtually empty.’
“We’re committed to working with BC Housing to find alternative supportive living. That’s not within our jurisdiction but really to strengthen our case when we go back to Supreme Court to overturn that injunction, we have to do out due diligence to work with BC Housing to make sure we’ve provided them an alternative to live elsewhere.
“It’s incumbent on us to work with BC Housing to make that happen to make sure they offer them the space, and if they turn it down, they turn it down.”
Fire and rescue response
From Jan. 1 to Oct. 20, Prince George Fire Rescue responded to a range of incidents, including 292 burning complaints and 398 medical aid calls within the downtown core. The service remains vigilant in ensuring public safety across the city, the report states.
Bylaw enforcement efforts
Bylaw officers continue to collaborate with civic operations to mitigate risks at the encampment, engaging in regular cleanup efforts to remove abandoned materials and improve safety. In 2024, there have been 164 calls regarding open drug use in the downtown area, reflecting ongoing challenges in public safety.
Community policing
The Prince George Community Policing unit has actively maintained partnerships with local Block Watch groups, currently supporting 44 active neighbourhood watch areas. Reports indicate that break and enter incidents have been relatively stable, with a total of 373 recorded in 2024 thus far.
Council also credited the city’s communications staff efforts to create its Who To Call To Report My Issue poster, which outlines which city authorities are responsible and how they can be contacted or a public safety issue, whether it’s a bylaw enforcement complaint, pothole on a city street, burnt-out street light, broken water main or bear causing a disturbance.
- with files from Kennedy Gordon
