Campers at Nanaimo’s Discontent City have 21 days to vacate the property they’ve illegally occupied for months.
The Supreme Court of British Columbia ruled against allowing Discontent City to remain on City of Nanaimo property, according to a recently released decision made by Justice Ronald Skolrood.
The ruling comes months after a two-day statutory injunction hearing took place at the Nanaimo courthouse in July, when lawyers for city argued that Discontent City be shut down and destroyed.
Skolrood had previously rejected the city’s attempt to obtain a police enforcement order at Discontent City. The city had sought the enforcement order after the occupants refused to comply with a court order imposed provincial fire safety order that had been issued by Skolrood at the conclusion of the injunction hearing.
A second fire safety order has since been issued against Discontent City.
Discontent City was established in May after a small group of protesters broke into the property and established a small camp as part of an effort to raise awareness about the plight homeless people. Since its establishment, the campsite’s population has ballooned to about 300 occupants. There have been also been overdose deaths, stabbings, an explosion and claims by Nanaimo RCMP of increased criminal activity in the neighbourhood around Port Drive. In August, the Soldiers of Odin Vancouver Island marched to the gates of the site where they were met by a large group of Discontent City supporters and concerned residents.
More to come