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25 Hours at the Homeless Camp in Abbotsford
“When we first got there, the homeless people were quite amazing, very respectful, they’re wanting to know what’s happening with their lives, it was a situation where they all pitched in, got the wall in the parking lot”
In Abbotsford, you can only stay 5 days out of the month in a shelter. If you smell like alcohol or use drugs you are kicked out for 30 days minimum – very strict policy. Where are the homeless people to go? They are forced to build their own camps.
The City of Abbotsford chased them out of location after location. Chicken manure was spread on one spot, and then another camp was invaded and torn to shreds. Pepper spray was used on defenceless citizens who only wanted a safe place to sleep without harassment and intimidation.
These following videos and pictures chronicle our 25 hours at Jubilee Park. The City of Abbotsford has served them an eviction notice, but they are staying. They were camped in the park for almost 60 days. Now this parking lot next to the park is their last refuge.
What are their demands? A low barrier shelter that won’t kick them out or judge them or intimidate them.
“During the evening, when they were putting up the 8 ft wall barricade to protect them against the wind, the Cops came to investigate but didn’t do anything. But the next morning, the big bosses got on the high agenda to get a court injunction and they didn’t want the homeless people to be there. The cops arrived at 1pm, stapled a bunch of Court notices saying that they had to be out of the new structure that was built last night by 6pm. It was heart wrenching to see all the bullying police officers, 5 By-Law officers, 4 Cops, to staple up the Court notices.”“20 minutes later, Abbotsford Police brought along City of Abbotsford Maintenance Dept, blockaded the parking lot, towed a bunch of vehicles away, which is heart wrenching to see. Spending all that money just to put up a Court injunction for the homeless people ..very sad. They got surveillance cameras – drones, They Bullied them to show the Homeless People.. “We are the City of Abbotsford”, You don’t dare disrupt what we do, and you have to do what we say”
“It’s so heart wrenching, the homeless people are just people looking for some help, to live their lives in a peaceful manner. A lot of these people don’t want to go into a shelter, because they feel they are institutionalized, they feel abused, it’s hard to imagine what they are going through.”
Barry Shantz was our guide through the camp. He is the head of the Abbotsford chapter of the BC Yukon Drug War Survivors, and is the recognized leader of the group.
DTES Street Market at Pigeon Park in Vancouver Downtown Eastside (DTES) on Sun Dec 15, 2013
Sunday Dec 15, 2013
Roland Clarke, Coordinator of the DTES Street Market says:
This was the 184th Street Market at Pigeon Park on Sunday!
Our 200th market day at Pigeon Park on Sunday will take place on April 6th – This will be a day of celebration for the Downtown Eastside. We plan to invite City Councillors, dignitaries, and anyone that wants to celebrate with the people of the DTES.
Despite threats of rain, it was rain free for the entire day. A moderate December day, with low wind,
The vendors were very well behaved this Sunday. We had no issues keeping the east side of Carrall clear, or the Church, or keeping order in most of the park. Clean up went well, we had the usual 1/2 tonne of garbage at the end of the day, and the volunteers did a stellar job as always.
The tent crew is now so practised and professional that they are finishing the tear down of the tents in less than 15 minutes. That means that with a little more pay we could handle twice as many tents with ease.
I can’t wait for this Summer…
Yukon Dan
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We had a special guest at the market this weekend, Yukon Dan. Dan gives demonstrations all around the province to children and community groups on how to pan for gold. He came and gave away several hundred dollars worth of gold to customers at the market this Sunday.
Cambridge House
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John Baldwin from the Cambridge house came down to Pigeon Park this Sunday. They initially wanted to give away free Chili, but I told them that this was not our model at the Street Market. There is so much begging culture in the Downtown Eastside, and we don’t need more of it. It destroys the people’s self esteem, it provides no employment and it lowers the value of people and things. What we want is pride, and economic activity.
They took my advice and decided to sell the bowls of Chilli for $0.50 a bowl. If someone did not have the money, then they would offer the bowl for free. This way, us Downtown Eastsiders would get a sense of pride and buy our own lunch with the money that we earn for ourselves at the Street Market. This is the economic engine that we want to encourage. This is called uplift, and it is almost entirely absent from the charity models that our applied to our neighbourhood.
The Cambridge House promised to donate whatever money that they made at The Market to the market fund. This way, the right economic choices are encouraged in our neighbourhood.
Thank you to the Cambridge House for coming to our market!
Woodward’s Space Community Forum in Vancouver
Agenda
Roland Clarke and DJ Joe of DNC and DTES Street Market with Andrew of SBC Restaurant
Roland Clarke and DJ Joe of DNC – Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood Council and DTES Street Market speak with Andrew of SBC Restaurant in Vancouver Downtown Eastside (DTES)
DTES Christmas and Holiday Meals 2013 – 2014 in Vancouver
Christmas and Holiday Meals for 2013 – 2014 in Vancouver Downtown Eastside (DTES)
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