Sanctioned homeless camps can't happen this summer, Edmonton city officials say
Edmonton city council spent Tuesday listening to suggestions for how to deal with homeless encampments that spring up each summer, including a push for a sanctioned camp.
It's been three years since a large camp took over a field in Rossdale for the summer.
Jerry McFeeters was one of the roughly 600 people who spent time living in Camp Pekiwewin.
"The camp absolutely gave me a chance to look at my issues and allow me to do it without somebody telling me that, 'look at you,' looking down on me," The Indigenous Elder said.
McFeeters left the camp when he felt it was getting too large and unsafe, but he credits the Indigenous-centered environment with granting him the spiritual clarity and self-reflection that got him off alcohol and into a home.
He is now part of a community-based research team advocating for a smaller, more structured version of the camp.
McFeeters believes it could be a place for people to stabilize when they’re ready to get help.
Coun. Aaron Paquette supports the idea.
"I think what we will end up seeing is less and less people in encampments, and more and more people trusting a system," he said.
"Because right now a lot of folks don’t trust our institutions because it’s our institutions frankly, that broke them in the first place."
City staff are fine-tuning their “encampment response strategy” ahead of the summer.
Edmonton intends to stick to its approach of dismantling encampments before they get too large.
"Predation is a problem," explained Jennifer Flaman with the City of Edmonton.
"We know when we concentrate vulnerable folks, we know we are creating a magnet and a target for gangs, disorder, criminality, physical and sexual assault. Even when we had 24/7 peace officer and police officer coverage."
In order to test out a sanctioned transitional camp for about 30 people, city council would need to approve a budget and go through a litany of legal and liability checks, something city staff say can’t happen in time for this summer.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.