The Town of Smithers is conducting a pilot tent uplift program at the temporary overnight sheltering area in Veterans Peace Park, starting May 9.
According to a press release from the town, the tent uplift will involve temporarily lifting and moving all tents so the sheltering area can be restored before the tents are put back in place.
The tents will be temporarily moved for the day so the area can be cleaned. Tents will be back before the end of the day.
“The intention is to make the uplift a regular occurrence, possibly bi-weekly, once feedback is received from community partners and staff,” said the town’s engagement and communications officer Samantha LeBlanc.
The program is a pilot initiative designed to assess and adapt processes for the safety and well-being of those residing at the temporary overnight sheltering area, as well as, town staff, and other community partners.
The new parks bylaw, adopted in June 2023, prohibits camping, including temporary overnight sheltering, in all town parks except the eastern part of Veterans Peace Park.
In that area, temporary overnight sheltering is allowed providing set up is no earlier than 6 p.m. and take down is no later than 9 a.m. from April to the end of September. In the winter the hours are 3 p.m. and 9 a.m. This has regulation has never been enforced, but the town did implement weekly encampment takedowns and cleanups of Veterans Peace Park.
However, in October 2023, the town temporarily suspended the process to ensure the safety of all workers involved in the takedowns and cleanups.
“Sometimes the condition of the camp, and the behavior of those within the encampment makes things maybe not the best situation for staff,” said Mayor Gladys Atrill at the time. “And we do have a responsibility as any employer to ensure that staff have a safe work environment at all times.”
The most recent press release from the town went on to say that the tent uplift program is a temporary solution to address the broader social and economic challenges facing our community and communities across the province.
“The town remains committed to working with our community partners and other levels of government to find a path forward for our community. The Town has partnered with community service agencies to offer supports and minimize any impacts on those residing in the temporary overnight sheltering area and the broader community during the scheduled tent uplift,” it stated.