Halifax fences off Victoria Park, tells encampment residents to leave

Halifax staff fenced off Victoria Park in downtown Halifax on Monday morning and told people living there they must leave.

“Probably about 8:30 a.m. somebody came to my tent and said they were going to be fencing the park up and we’d have to vacate and take our stuff,” said resident Jay Campbell. “I knew it was coming, but it was a surprise.”

As of 11 a.m. the park had been completely surrounded by fencing. About six people were still sleeping rough at the park and municipal staff were handing out bins for people to pack up their belongings.

“The health and safety conditions in the park have steadily declined over the past few months, placing those sheltering in this location in an increasingly vulnerable situation,” read a statement from the municipality. “People in this location are being advised to immediately pack their belongings for transportation or storage and vacate the de-designated location.”

Staff and street navigators were offering people other housing options, including a space at the Halifax Forum shelter and the DoubleTree hotel in Dartmouth.

“My plan is to vacate the park and go elsewhere, pitch up a tent somewhere else,” Campbell said, who said he didn’t feel comfortable going to a shelter.

As of 3 p.m., about six tents had been set up along University Ave. directly next to Victoria Park. University Ave. is one of the remaining designated tenting locations as approved by HRM.

In an update Monday evening, the municipality said just one person remained at Victoria Park and efforts were continuing to provide that person with indoor-sheltering options and support.

The statement also said just two people remain at Grande Parade, and the Lower Sackville ballfield encampment had been totally vacated.