Saturday morning before 8 a.m., Victoria police and bylaw officers were seen patrolling Pandora Avenue, requiring unhoused campers to pack up their tents and belongings and clear the area.
A spokesperson for the City of Victoria says this is not unusual as sheltering is not permitted on the block and the goal is compliance.
“Bylaw officers work seven days a week,” said Colleen Mycroft, spokesperson for the City of Victoria, adding “officers manage their deployments to safely encourage compliance with city bylaws.”
As for how it’s carried out, she says that varies depending on the person, the number of structures and types of belongings.
“The goal is to help them pack up their belongings and dispose of belongings that are safe or ruined,” she said adding “I can’t speak to impounds today I don’t have that information,” said Mycroft.
Where the campers were ushered next is unknown.
Earlier this week, a confidential draft penned by Victoria’s Mayor Marion Alto disclosed a plan to relocate Pandora Avenue campers to a new community. Dowler Place in North Park, a plan that’s been approved by council.
A day later, the mayor apologized for any confusion and for the way it was handled.
READ: Victoria Mayor responds to CHEK story on draft plan for Dowler Place
However, Mycroft says Saturday’s tent takedown is about compliance with city bylaws.
“The goal is compliance and to work with folks and sometimes that looks different for different folk,” said Mycroft.
In 2024, the city worked to have tents along Pandora Avenue taken down, which happened with little warning according to campers and personnel at Our Place, the shelter along Pandora Ave.
READ: