AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today October 31, 2026
Eviction Order Enforced at Fairview Homeless Encampment
On Friday, approximately a dozen people living at the Fairview encampment in Penticton, B.C., were required to leave after a court injunction to evict them came into effect at noon. The province secured the injunction earlier in the week, arguing that the encampment, situated next to Highway 97, posed significant public safety risks.
Camp Residents Ordered to Leave
John Tanghe, a resident who had lived at the camp for two and a half years, told CBC News, "I don't know where I'm going. They didn't give us any options really." Tanghe considered staying in the encampment but said he was warned that he would be arrested and removed if he did not comply. "Where do they want us to go?" he asked.
Concerns About Displacement and Lack of Options
Cash Boyle, who described himself as intermittently homeless but not a Fairview camper, commented that evicted campers would likely just relocate to other areas in the city. "It's not like they're causing any problems. Where are they supposed to go? They're just going to be pushed somewhere else to be given a fine or a ticket that they can't afford, on the income they don't have," Boyle said.
Outreach Support and Shelter Availability
Local support groups and outreach workers attended the site during the eviction, offering snacks and transportation to local shelters. According to a statement from the City of Penticton, emergency shelter space was available for all the evicted residents.
RCMP Presence and Peacekeeping
After the noon deadline, members of the RCMP walked through the Fairview encampment. Sgt. Paul Bentham explained, "We're just here to keep the peace and make sure we're connecting people with resources and they have a place to go. That's the goal, to make sure everyone is housed."
Community Members Protest Eviction
Danielle Savage, a Penticton resident, and her family arrived at the encampment to protest the eviction, holding a sign that read, "Everyone needs warmth this winter!" Savage said, "We're just out here to show support. I feel very moved that people's homes are being destroyed at the onset of winter."
Court Ruling and Legal Arguments
The injunction was ordered by B.C. Supreme Court Justice Briana Hardwick, who determined that the Charter rights of the campers would not be violated by the eviction. Hardwick found that the encampment residents were violating trespass laws, breaching the Transportation Act, and committing public nuisance. Lawyers for the encampment residents argued that the camp provided a sense of safety and community, and that dismantling it would cause harm and reduce access to critical services. However, Hardwick rejected these arguments, stating the area was "simply unsuitable in any condition for an encampment."
Personal Stories and Ongoing Challenges
Tanghe, reflecting on the stigma faced by homeless individuals, shared, "Everyone thinks we're druggies and junkies ... but some of us just can't find room and board. Yeah, I do the occasional drugs here and there, and so does everyone else. But we're still people, you know what I mean?"
The eviction comes at a time when homelessness, access to shelter, and public safety remain pressing concerns in the community.
Related coverage
Source: cbc.ca.
