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Province watching illegal homeless camp in Cedar, while some residents move on

Oct 22, 2018 | 6:37 PM

NANAIMO — The province is weighing its next move as pressure mounts on a group of illegal campers to leave the bank of the Nanaimo River in Cedar.

Half-a-dozen RV’s were set up on the provincially-owned site between Cedar Rd. and the Duke Point Hwy. as of Monday afternoon — the same location of a call-to-action style rally two days previous where frustrated neighbours confronted some of the campers.

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing issued a statement to NanaimoNewsNOW, which said the illegal campers were asked to vacate the site more than a month ago.

“Campers have been asked to leave for safety reasons as water levels will begin to rise,” the Ministry said. “With the potential of rising river levels and current proximity to fish spawning habitat, the location poses a threat to the people’s safety and the local environment.”

Outreach staff conducted assessments to help find housing solutions for camp residents, according to the Ministry, which is also working with the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) and “considering all of our options at this time.”

Longtime area resident Shirley Gueho said incoming rainfall heightens the need to have the campers and their belongings removed. Gueho said she’s alarmed by the amount of trash and discarded items dangerously close to the flood-prone section of river.

“There’s an awful lot of garbage and I know firsthand how fast the river comes up and it’s all going to be going into the river…There is toxic propane bottles, there’s barbecues, gas cans, you name it, it’s there.”

Dozens of people, including upset area residents, toured the encampment Saturday, Oct. 20 to voice their displeasure directly to people living in several RV’s lining the river.

Gueho said she’s encouraged to see the size of the camp has since shrunk.

Two campers told NanaimoNewsNOW Monday they intend to leave and find another place for shelter.

Rob Lejeunesse, another longtime Cedar resident, said the campers set up at the Nanaimo River location more than a year ago.

He said a lot of people in the community and visitors have been impacted by the camp’s presence.

“It’s a very safe, very shallow spot to swim for little guys and this summer no one came down here because of the people that were here. It’s too bad they don’t have a place to stay but this isn’t it.”

Lejeunesse said he and his family no longer pick up garbage from the encampment out of fear of being pricked by needles.

The RDN said it has kept track of concerns from numerous Cedar residents and is keeping an open line of communication with the province.

 

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes