Skip to content

Petition underway to stop bylaw on homeless camping in Regional District of Nanaimo

‘Canadians are known for their meekness but this time we need to have a voice’
20631829_web1_200225-PQN-Petition-tostop-homeless-camping-RDN_1
A petition is underway to stop the Regional District of Nanaimo from adopting a bylaw that would allow homeless people camp overnight in designated parks. (File photo)

A petition has been launched, aiming to stop the adoption of a Regional District of Nanaimo bylaw on homeless camping in parks.

The petition was started by Colleen Aiderliesten on change.org a week ago. To date it has already garnered more than 2,600 signatures. The target is to get 5,000.

The RDN is looking at a bylaw that would allow homeless people to camp overnight at designated parks in the regional district.

This doesn’t sit well with Aiderliesten, who said it will have a negative impact on people who use the park, as well as home values and tourism. She also raised issues concerning crime and drug use.

READ MORE: Regional District of Nanaimo committee recommends adoption of bylaw on homeless camping in parks

“We need to stop this bylaw,” Aiderliesten said on her petition. “Canadians are known for their meekness but this time we need to have a voice.”

The regional parks and trails select committee of the RDN recently approved the bylaw, that would allow homeless people to camp overnight at designated parks from 7 p.m. to 9 a.m. It will now go before the RDN board for consideration and approval.

No camping will be allowed at any time at all regional and community trails and paths; all water accesses; and some parks in the regional district.

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter 



Michael Briones

About the Author: Michael Briones

I rejoined the PQB News team in April 2017 from the Comox Valley Echo, having previously covered sports for The NEWS in 1997.
Read more