"no-go" zones. Areas of Victoria ceded to homeless camps.

[ExtraSlow]

Seems like this is a small step away from what happened in Portland where police wouldn't even enter certain sections of the city.
Right now parks and bylaw staff won't enter certain Victoria parks without police escorts.
https://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/victoria-police-chief-calls-city-parks-unsafe-says-bylaw-officers-chased-threatened-1.24283968

[Buster]

97569

[ThePenIsMightier]

Gross. Council too busy with their head up their ass making bike lanes ruining Fort Street.
Who's the moderator with the "More Cowbell" avatar that moved there? Someone please mention that member as I'd like to hear his take.

[Buster]

send in the 'Rona

[jutes]

Read up on Ben Isitt, that guy is a real piece of work.

[blueToy]

This is happening in Calgary too. Folks have set up under the LRT bridge along 14th street and 14th ave NW. Also, check out the bunch of trees along 14th street just before 16th ave NW southbound. The place is littered with all kinds of late night finds while they roam the adjacent neighborhoods.

[killramos]

Victoria is a shithole. The rest of the island isn’t much better

[ThePenIsMightier]

hampstor

Talk to me, Goose.

[revelations]

Nanaimo dismantled their 'fun zone' after several fires and tents were burned.

[ZenOps]

2021. Along with tiny houses and living in vans. Brave new world.

[hampstor]

hampstor

Talk to me, Goose.

I'll do a comparison to Calgary.

To level set what "Victoria" is for everyone else, it's one of several municipalities in the capital region district. Each one has their own town council/tax/police/fire/bylaws/trash and compost pickup/sewage etc. There are common services provided by a group called the CRD (water and recycling pickup). The main municipalities are Victoria, Saanich, View Royal, Esquimalt, Colwood, and Langford. The comparison to Calgary would be like... every neighbourhood being its own city.

The comparison would be Druh Farrell massively expanding homeless programs in her area and ONLY her area. Since it becomes very homeless friendly, more homeless started coming to downtown Calgary. Basic services get overwhelmed. People shitting and pissing everywhere. So they allow camping in prince's island park so homeless are in one area. Prince's island park then becomes a giant homeless camp - complete with a bicycle chop shop, drugs, fighting. The city puts porta poties/medical facilities there. More people show up, and its overwhelming. City buys old hotels downtown, turns them into shelters. There are problems, so they pass laws specifically to address it. City bylaw tries to enforce bylaws, finds that homeless aren't all nice people, and needs help from police (the same police they want to defund). They don't have enough money, as they've driven businesses out with their cycle tracks and other progressive agenda ideas. Calgarians from outside the downtown go 'fuck it, im not going downtown anymore', and the Calgarians who live downtown are now fucked.

The big thing to remember here is unlike Calgary which is one city, the different municipalities don't actually have to agree on things. Victoria may want to allow camping in other parks in say, Saanich, but since it's a different municipality, Saanich will tell them to go fuck themselves and fix the problem they made themselves.

In the last few weeks when it got cold, some of the camps had some crazy fires and shit. One of the fires they lit, someone threw propane tanks or other pressurized containers in, resulting in explosions and people getting hurt. My favourite place to get wings (Heckler's on Gorge), is now a gong show since they bought the hotel its attached to and the parking lot is sketchy as fuck.

[killramos]

Yea. All that plus it doesn’t get cold enough to kill people so they stay.

Very similar problem to pine beetles.

[ThePenIsMightier]

I'll do a comparison to Calgary.

To level set what "Victoria" is for everyone else, it's one of several municipalities in the capital region district. Each one has their own town council/tax/police/fire/bylaws/trash and compost pickup/sewage etc. There are common services provided by a group called the CRD (water and recycling pickup). The main municipalities are Victoria, Saanich, View Royal, Esquimalt, Colwood, and Langford. The comparison to Calgary would be like... every neighbourhood being its own city.

The comparison would be Druh Farrell massively expanding homeless programs in her area and ONLY her area. Since it becomes very homeless friendly, more homeless started coming to downtown Calgary. Basic services get overwhelmed. People shitting and pissing everywhere. So they allow camping in prince's island park so homeless are in one area. Prince's island park then becomes a giant homeless camp - complete with a bicycle chop shop, drugs, fighting. The city puts porta poties/medical facilities there. More people show up, and its overwhelming. City buys old hotels downtown, turns them into shelters. There are problems, so they pass laws specifically to address it. City bylaw tries to enforce bylaws, finds that homeless aren't all nice people, and needs help from police (the same police they want to defund). They don't have enough money, as they've driven businesses out with their cycle tracks and other progressive agenda ideas. Calgarians from outside the downtown go 'fuck it, im not going downtown anymore', and the Calgarians who live downtown are now fucked.

The big thing to remember here is unlike Calgary which is one city, the different municipalities don't actually have to agree on things. Victoria may want to allow camping in other parks in say, Saanich, but since it's a different municipality, Saanich will tell them to go fuck themselves and fix the problem they made themselves.

In the last few weeks when it got cold, some of the camps had some crazy fires and shit. One of the fires they lit, someone threw propane tanks or other pressurized containers in, resulting in explosions and people getting hurt. My favourite place to get wings (Heckler's on Gorge), is now a gong show since they bought the hotel its attached to and the parking lot is sketchy as fuck.

Very true.
I think the article mentioned Gorge Road area and that's always been a trainwreck because all those scabby old motels have been unofficial housing for mental patients and homeless for the past 20 years.
The other area surprised me a little more. (Can't recall it's name, this instant).

- - - Updated - - -


Yea. All that plus it doesn’t get cold enough to kill people so they stay.

Very similar problem to pine beetles.

It's a little worse than "staying". It's more that they come and stay due to tolerable winter.
Victoria and Vancouver are in the business of importing the nation's homeless and they receive no additional funding to deal with that fact.

[hampstor]

Very true.
I think the article mentioned Gorge Road area and that's always been a trainwreck because all those scabby old motels have been unofficial housing for mental patients and homeless for the past 20 years.
The other area surprised me a little more. (Can't recall it's name, this instant).

Beacon Hill Park, and Royal Athletic Park are the big areas right now. Neither of those places you want to live near or be around in the dark.

[killramos]

they receive no additional funding to deal with that fact.

Just as god intended

[hampstor]

Read up on Ben Isitt, that guy is a real piece of work.

Ben Isitt and Lisa Helps make Druh Farrell sound like Joe Magliocca (contrasting someone with a socially progressive agenda vs. someone who does not).

[SJW]

Victoria is a shithole. The rest of the island isn’t much better
I have a house there. Was thinking it’s where I’d retire. I cant fucking stand hippies and weak people. I’m going to have to sell and find an acerage out there with a moat and gators.

[ThePenIsMightier]

Beacon Hill Park, and Royal Athletic Park are the big areas right now. Neither of those places you want to live near or be around in the dark.

Yeah it was Royal Athletic that surprised me, but then I checked the map and remembered Fernwood. Say no more.

[vengie]

Victoria is a shithole. The rest of the island isn’t much better

You stop that.
Uclulet and Tofino are amazing.

[ThePenIsMightier]

You stop that.
Uclulet and Tofino are amazing.

I know, LoL!
I think some sand stayed in his vagina when the baby came out. RoFL!

[Hallowed_point]

Victoria is a shithole. The rest of the island isn’t much better

Victoria is a shithole? In comparison to which city out of curiosity?

[killramos]

Victoria is a shithole? In comparison to which city out of curiosity?

Pretty much any city that isn’t half homeless camp half hippy drum circle. And there bud a big blurred line between the two halves.

[Hallowed_point]

Pretty much any city that isn’t half homeless camp half hippy drum circle. And there bud a big blurred line between the two halves.

You forgot the island real old money seniors whom look down on everyone that doesn't own a jag! You want to see colorful, head to bastion square market at night :rofl:

[ThePenIsMightier]

You forgot the island real old money seniors whom look down on everyone that doesn't own a jag! You want to see colorful, head to bastion square market at night :rofl:

You can didgeridoo that; however, I suggest that you didgeri-don't.

[killramos]

You can didgeridoo that; however, I suggest that you didgeri-don't.

I think that covid test sent you for a ride bud

[Xtrema]

I think that covid test sent you for a ride bud

That cotton swab definitely went too deep.

[Pacman]

It's a mess. My parents have a condo very close to the tent city (they are right across the street from the Glo Restaurant / Pub if you know the area) and they no longer like walking along the Galloping Goose trail due to random weirdos walking around and syringes scattered all over the place.

[ThePenIsMightier]

^Yeesh... That's a tough spot. That's too bad.

[jutes]

I have an opportunity to work/live on the island in the next year or two. While the weather is much easier to live with than the winters on the prairies, along with the 11.5 month golf season, the scuzziness of the cities are a turn off. Visiting Nanaimo in 2019 was an eye opener, couldn’t have a patio beer without being crowded by drug addicts. Downtown was a shit show. With the prices of houses out there I’m not surprised at all.

[revelations]

I have an opportunity to work/live on the island in the next year or two. While the weather is much easier to live with than the winters on the prairies, along with the 11.5 month golf season, the scuzziness of the cities are a turn off. Visiting Nanaimo in 2019 was an eye opener, couldn’t have a patio beer without being crowded by drug addicts. Downtown was a shit show. With the prices of houses out there I’m not surprised at all.

the locals avoid downtown - best pubs are, sadly, up in the north part of the city

[hampstor]

It's a mess. My parents have a condo very close to the tent city (they are right across the street from the Glo Restaurant / Pub if you know the area) and they no longer like walking along the Galloping Goose trail due to random weirdos walking around and syringes scattered all over the place.

That's off Jutland / gorge. Ya it's sketchy at night. Drove home down by there tonight and had to drive around someone staggering across the road by that "Robin Hood Inn" just down from there.

[OTown]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpAi70WWBlw

Same thing is happening in all sorts of cities with spineless governments

[Buster]

Isn't the island basically our Florida?

[Tik-Tok]

I have an opportunity to work/live on the island in the next year or two. While the weather is much easier to live with than the winters on the prairies, along with the 11.5 month golf season, the scuzziness of the cities are a turn off. Visiting Nanaimo in 2019 was an eye opener, couldn’t have a patio beer without being crowded by drug addicts. Downtown was a shit show. With the prices of houses out there I’m not surprised at all.

First time I took my wife to the island, we were approaching the ferry dock (while on it), and she asks "Wtf is that smell?"

Me-"Oh that's just Nanaimo's natural fragrance."

Then not 2 min. off the ferry, we're driving down Front St. and had to stop in because of 3 cops foot chasing and tackling some crackhead in the middle of the road.

Me-"Welcome to Nanaimo!"


Isn't the island basically our Florida?

Quebec is more than Van.Island. Especially with how many frogs are snowbirds in Florida. The Island is more like Louisiana's coast line.

[ZenOps]

GTxI2nJ4lN4

But, free entertainment!

[riander5]

That cotton swab definitely went too deep.

All his voluntary tests he is so proud of scrambled his brain completely

[JohnnyHockey13]

GTxI2nJ4lN4

But, free entertainment!

Is that the Wack, or is that a regular day in Bankview lol

I guess that type of stuff would really come to a shock to all you Aspen folk ...

[ThePenIsMightier]

All his voluntary tests he is so proud of scrambled his brain completely

Super work! What you've said is very funny because I have had one voluntary test without a specific traveling/health reason. I think it was in Summer.
You go ahead and dig up the posts to prove me wrong.

[bjstare]

Isn't the island basically our Florida?

More comparable to Cali or PNW (Seattle), IMO. Florida has a bunch of rednecks that the island doesn't have.

[Tik-Tok]

More comparable to Cali or PNW (Seattle), IMO. Florida has a bunch of rednecks that the island doesn't have.

I still wouldn't call it Florida, but outside of Victoria, the island is full of rednecks too. Growing up on the north half of the island, it was an equal mix of old school hippies and rednecks.

[jutes]

Florida has a bunch of rednecks that the island doesn't have.

I don't know about that. I've spend a lot of time in the Comox/Courtney area over the past 10 years and it's pretty MAGA outside of the main cities.

[killramos]

Yea outside of Victoria and Nanaimo is all rednecks. Rednecks and natives, with a few geriatrics floating around.

Vancouver island is massively overrated.

[revelations]

I don't know about that. I've spend a lot of time in the Comox/Courtney area over the past 10 years and it's pretty MAGA outside of the main cities.

Yea loggers and fishermen. Still going after all these years.

[ExtraSlow]

Like a lot of places, there's a big difference between visiting as a tourist and wanting to live there. Like Toronto.

[ThePenIsMightier]

First time I took my wife to the island, we were approaching the ferry dock (while on it), and she asks "Wtf is that smell?"

Me-"Oh that's just Nanaimo's natural fragrance."



What smell does Nanaimo have? It's not a pleasant place, but it's not like it wheels like Powell River or something.

[ExtraSlow]

I'd rather live in Powell River than downtown Victoria. Actually, aside from working, I think I'd be pretty good with Powell River.

[ThePenIsMightier]

I'd rather live in Powell River than downtown Victoria. Actually, aside from working, I think I'd be pretty good with Powell River.

URGENT notice from AHS:
ExtraSlow has tested POSITIVE for CoVid-19.
You will notice your complete loss of the sense of smell.

[ExtraSlow]

My lack of taste has been obvious ever since I fell in love with you.

[jutes]

I'd rather live in Powell River than downtown Victoria. Actually, aside from working, I think I'd be pretty good with Powell River.

Your choice of Inland Island Autobahn or coastal twisty 19A goodness. Roads are the only thing they have going for it.

[revelations]

What smell does Nanaimo have? It's not a pleasant place, but it's not like it wheels like Powell River or something.

depending on the location (ie south) - the pulp mill produces a pungent smell on occasion (wind dependent)

[ThePenIsMightier]

depending on the location (ie south) - the pulp mill produces a pungent smell on occasion (wind dependent)

What pulp mill? There was one in Crofton, but that was closer to Drunken.

[Tik-Tok]

What pulp mill? There was one in Crofton, but that was closer to Drunken.

Harmac is right down the road from Duke Point, and has been for 30 years

[ThePenIsMightier]

Harmac is right down the road from Duke Point, and has been for 30 years

Really? Well, shit.
I must have always been upstream any time I was in Nanaimo.

[mr2mike]

This is happening in Calgary too. Folks have set up under the LRT bridge along 14th street and 14th ave NW. Also, check out the bunch of trees along 14th street just before 16th ave NW southbound. The place is littered with all kinds of late night finds while they roam the adjacent neighborhoods.

Haha I've called those camps in many times and test my vehicle horn under there when I was driving to work at 6am.
Also posted it on Kijiji once as a for rent ad to gain exposure. Got a lot of hilarious replies before someone complained about it.

Glad someone else sees it and not just me. It's disgusting under there.