Occupants of an encampment outside of Abbotsford City Hall have been given until 11 a.m. on Monday (Sept. 23) to leave the site and are not permitted to return before Oct. 2.

But an advocate for the approximately 60 protesters says they have no intention of moving.

A 鈥渘otice of trespass鈥� issued by the city to the campers states that the city and the Abbotsford Police Department will be on site after 8 a.m. on Monday to enforce the city鈥檚 parks bylaw and ensure the property is cleared.

The group, calling themselves a 鈥減rotest camp,鈥� is supported by the Abbotsford Drug War Survivors. They first set up at Babich Park in east Abbotsford in late June after being forced to move from their prior setups on Gladys Road.

Two spots 鈥� one across from the Salvation Army and the other near Essendene Avenue 鈥� are owned by BC Hydro and have since been filled in with boulders.
The group remained in Babich Park for a few days before moving to the current location outside of city hall.

At the time of the move, Mayor Ross Siemens said Babich Park was not an ideal spot for the protest camp.

He said the group 鈥渉as a right to protest鈥� and that city hall was a better location for them to do that.

City spokesperson Melissa Godbout said Friday (Sept. 20) that the city has been working with the protest organizers and the province about additional housing options.

However, she said safety concerns have arisen.

鈥淓ven with the daily support from Abbotsford Police Department and contracted security support, the encampment has continued to grow and includes both the original protesters as well as people who are unhoused,鈥� she said.

鈥淭here have been increasing safety concerns identified by AbbyPD and the city鈥檚 bylaw staff. Public safety is our top priority, which is why we have decided to move to close down this encampment.鈥�

Brittany Maple, program coordinator for the Abbotsford Drug War Survivors, said she believes the safety concerns are coming from a "fear-based approach" of city staff and not any actual incidents.

"I think that if we're actually concerned about public safety and, identifying that these homeless community members are members of the public, then disbanding the camp and giving people no alternative option of safe municipal land where they can camp doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me," she said.

Godbout said BC Housing, through its local program partners and outreach workers, has been 鈥渃ontinually offering鈥� shelter to individuals in the encampment.

But Maple said the housing offered is not necessarily appropriate or accessible for most of the protesters.

"The larger challenge that this protest is addressing is that the current shelter and housing continuum leaves many people falling between the gaps," she said.

Maple said the occupants have informed her they have no intention of leaving on Monday and they "remain steadfast in their dedication to continue to protest" there unless and until the courts issue an injunction order.

The trespass notice also indicates that the occupants have until 4:30 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 21) to respond to the trespass notice. Maple said, to that end, almost 60 people have signed a letter as of Friday afternoon, indicating they believe their rights are being infringed upon under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The trespass notice also indicates that the protesters must not re-enter the premises until noon on Wednesday, Oct. 2. Maple said she believes this is to allow the site to be cleared for the city's National Day for Truth and Reconciliation event on Monday, Sept. 30.

"We have some pretty big questions about whether it's appropriate to forcibly remove homeless, Indigenous community members protesting for their rights in the name of honouring truth and reconciliation in an event," Maple said.

She invited community members to join the protesters on Monday in support of "holding the city accountable for taking responsibility to make sure that there is a safe place for people to go."

The trespass notice states that anyone who does not comply may be subject to "arrest or prosecution."

The city's parks bylaw allows temporary structures to be erected after 7 p.m. daily, but they must be taken down by 9 a.m.

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