Kelowna’s Unhoused Residents Rally at City Hall: Standing Up Against Bylaws and RCMP Actions

More than 100 people came together outside Kelowna City Hall on April 13 to voice their concerns about actions taken by the city’s bylaw officers and the RCMP at Tent City, an outdoor shelter site.

The rally kicked off at 1:30 p.m., offering free soup and pizza. Attendees could also make signs and access harm reduction tools. Erica Stewart, who once lived at Tent City for about three years and now resides in a tiny home, played a significant role in organizing the event.

"It’s busy, but I’ve never felt more at home," Stewart shared. Tent City had become a vital community for her.

On March 26, the site at Weddell Place and Richter Street faced an unannounced spring cleanup. Residents reported that they were only given 30 minutes to pack their belongings after being woken up. Anything left behind was at risk of being discarded.

To support the residents still at Tent City, Stewart is part of the Unhoused Solidarity Collective Okanagan (USCO), which hosted the rally. She noted that conditions have worsened over the years. "When I first moved in, bylaw officers did daily wellness checks. Now, it feels like intimidation," she said.

The USCO presented three key demands during the gathering:

1. Stop the current operation, dismantle the militarized encampment, and remove fences that restrict movement.
2. Revoke the controversial good neighbor agreement and the rules that govern the occupants.
3. Transition to a peer-led model, giving Tent City residents authority over the site and decisions affecting their community.

Stewart emphasized the need for respectful dialogue, saying, "We want to have intelligent conversations. We just don’t want people bullied or harassed."

Public interest in these issues is growing. According to a recent survey by the Okanagan Basin Water Board, 73% of residents support more community-led approaches to homelessness. As more people share their experiences and advocate for rights, there’s hope for positive change.

Kelowna’s response to these community movements will be crucial. As the city grapples with rising homelessness, experts suggest that understanding and collaboration may pave the way for more effective solutions.

For more information on the city’s homelessness strategy, you can check the City of Kelowna’s website.

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bylaw enforcement|Homeless|Kelowna