Kamloops council passes new bylaw to prohibit overnight camping in several areas

The legislation also adds buffer zones of 25 metres from playgrounds, waterparks, swimming pools, wading pools on public lands, 50 metres from schools, and four metres from sidewalks, multi-use pathways.

“These changes are to enhance safety in high use family areas, align with the approaches used by other municipalities and maintain access to parks while reducing risk and conflicts,” Beatty adds.

The question of enforcement was raised by council, with the bylaw now allowing community services officers (CSO) to move people along in more areas especially from areas prone to fire risk.

“If we talk Peterson Creek, we talk Kenna Cartwright, Strathcona Park those areas that have been frequented that you can’t really see and we will get too,” Kamloops Fire Rescue Chief Ken Uzeloc says. “Now those calls come in those are prohibited now, so now it doesn’t matter if it’s within the temporary overnight guidelines, those are prohibited areas, they aren’t allowed to camp there, they will be moved along from those areas.”

While Councillor Nancy Bepple raised concerns with limiting the space for unhouse individuals, Deputy Mayor Mike O’Reilly came back in opposition.

“The enforcement is going to be incredibly important,” O’Reilly says. “People are fearing not just for their homes but for their lives as they are going through the parks, and hopefully this will take that out. But really have to have areas where people can camp, but we need to protect the general population and the public.”

“In my opinion, they are far to big, they are up Overlanders, down Fortune, Pioneer Park, everywhere,” O’Reilly adds, regarding the current zone allowed for overnight camping.

There won’t be an immediate removal of campsite as CSO workers will be working with other resources to find shelter for anybody in the parks or riverbanks.

“The intention of this plan and this group together is to really transform outreach into a collective group that can work together to address much bigger problems that are happening. And to help people into shelter, into housing and long term stability,” Natasha Hartson, the city’s social, housing and community development manager says.

by Michael Reeve

Kamloops council passes new bylaw to prohibit overnight camping in several areas

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