District of Squamish is investigating a squatter’s camp off trails in Brackendale.
The district says its bylaw department received an email on Monday evening about the camp.
“Two Bylaw Officers have attended the site of the complaint. We are aware and are investigating,” said Chris Baker, the district’s bylaw supervisor, in response to a query by the Squamish Reporter.
The camp is close to the water tower in the trail network across from the Squamish Landfill in Ray Peters Trail in Brackendale, according to the local resident who wrote the email to the district. The resident shared her complaint with the Squamish Reporter.
The resident first got to know about the camp last Friday afternoon after noticing smoke in the woods.
“It was after 4:30 pm so it was very difficult to get a hold of anyone, and I was passed from DOS to bylaw, to non-emergency RCMP to fire dispatch,” the resident wrote.
The resident went back to the area later.
“I could see that squatters had created a home there in the woods and had a fire going. I have no idea if anyone from fire dispatch went to check out the fire, but there are real concerns with squatters setting up a camp in the woods in a residential area as fire danger is a real concern as well as theft, crime and likely drug use,” the local resident wrote.
The resident noticed metal parts and a blue scooter along with a tent and a tarp structure. The resident was worried about the fire risk such a camp poses to the area.
“Who is responsible for looking after this? Who should be contacted when squatter camps are found? With everything going on in Squamish regarding the new bylaw, is this not just a sign of things to come?” the resident wrote.
Robert says
It’s definitely a sign of “things” to come. This town will explode with the homeless coming here to live & freely as there’s not nearly enough qualified resources to police or manage this town as it is!!
Pennie says
I echo Robert’s message above.
I am concerned, as are many others, of the homeless encampments being set up anywhere they find a place to do so. This is a huge issue. Who IS responsible to police it?! The RCMP already have their hands full.