REGINA, Sask. — Encampment residents pleaded for more time as police, firefighters and bylaw officers placed caution tape around tents in a park in Regina's Heritage neighbourhood Tuesday, with a city councillor warning of an approaching snowstorm.
Residents and advocates voiced their concerns to officials at the scene, chanting, “We need more time!”
Ward 8 Coun. Shanon Zachidniak was also at the park and said she was concerned for the residents of the encampment, especially with temperatures falling.
“I’m really concerned — there’s a snowstorm coming tonight. I first and foremost want to make sure that the folks who are here have a safe plan,” Zachidniak said.
“This is all happening very quickly — I certainly wasn’t aware that this was going to happen.”
Katie Doke Sawatzky, director of external relations for the John Howard Society of Saskatchewan, said she witnessed anger and concern from both encampment residents and advocates.
“These folks don’t have a place to go and they don’t have the support that they need, so our community needs to step up,” Doke Sawatzky said.
Krista Shore, executive director of Rolling Thunder Consulting, also expressed concern about the situation, pointing to the economic disadvantages faced by people living at the encampment.
“This is kind of a definition of state genocide amongst a very vulnerable population. A lot of people in this area have a lot of disparity and economic structures that are against them,” Shore said.
Regina fire chief Layne Jackson said the goal is to have the Pepsi Park encampment fully dismantled by the end of the day.
Jackson said the fire service deemed the safety threat imminent after multiple fire-related incidents occurred in recent days.
“We had three fires within two days over the weekend. One of the fires involved multiple tents. It involved explosions, and it involved a person being hospitalized with burns,” Jackson said.
He said the city’s focus is on preventing further injuries or loss of life.
As for what comes next for people living at the encampment, Jackson said support services are at the site to help out.
“Anything that folks need as far as shelter and any other type of support, that’s why they’re there,” Jackson said.
