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Tent city campers move into Saanich mayoral candidate’s backyard

‘Garbage guru’ David Shebib opens his property to more than 20 campers
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Tent city campers have moved to David Shebib’s private property in Saanich, after leaving Goldstream campground Oct. 2. (Travis Paterson/News staff)

After a two-week stay in Goldstream Park’s campground, the tent city campers are moving into the backyard of a Saanich mayoral candidate.

Chrissy Brett, the leader of the homeless camp known as Camp Namegans, said David Shebib is letting approximately 20 to 25 campers move into space behind his home.

READ MORE: Tent city campers pack up and leave Goldstream Park

“He has listened to the rhetoric of if people are such bleeding hearts, take them home to your own backyard,” Brett said several hours after the campers left the Goldstream campground.

“He’s opened up his backyard, his front yard and all around his house for us to take a bit of a break,” she said. “It’s not huge, but we’ll make it work.”

Lindsay Byers of Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing confirmed that all of the homeless campers have left Goldstream campground. In an email, she said the ministry is continuing to work with campers to offer shelter. Since the Regina Park tent city, only 10 people have accepted the offer.

Four shelters in Greater Victoria, Byers said, are prepared to take some new people, including Rock Bay Landing, Sandy Merriman Shelter, Victoria Native Friendship Centre and Arbutus Shelter.

As for the recently vacated Goldstream Park campground, BC Parks has to assess the area before it can be opened to the public. David Karn, the communications officer with the Ministry of Environment, said, “We anticipate that some remediation will be required, however, we won’t know the scale and timing until we have assessed the impacts.”

Victoria News has reached out to the District of Saanich for comment and will update.

READ MORE: Costs of homelessness far outweighs cost of housing says advocate

With files from Travis Paterson.


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After 11 a.m. on Oct. 2, homeless campers began leaving Goldstream Provincial Park Campground after a two-week stay. (Keili Bartlett/News staff)