Kelowna's designated outdoor tented shelter space will see individual spaces reduced in size as will the total number of spots.(Kelowna10 app/submitted photo)

By Vernon Matters Staff

tent encampment changes

Outdoor shelter fencing ‘not a cage’ as Kelowna reduces number of spaces

Mar 27, 2025 | 2:00 PM

The City of Kelowna says the fencing they’ve put up at the designated outdoor shelter space – or tent encampment – does not make that area a concentration camp or cage.

Community Safety Director Kevin Mead was responding to some criticism about the clean up of the site between Ethel and Richter streets Wednesday.

Speaking to the media Thursday, he said the fencing is to stop others from imposing themselves on occupants and some inhabitants have even thanked the city for the improved security.

“The fencing is not in place to prevent anyone from leaving the site whatsoever,” he said. “People are free to go as they wish. This is not a concentration camp, nor is it a cage.”

Mead said eight arrests were made in the last two days for alleged crimes including assault and outstanding warrants.

Candidate

'Trump is the five-alarm fire': Liberal Juliette Sicotte

Mar 28, 2025

Flight From Police

Arraignment in flight from police case to go in April

Mar 28, 2025

Arena Upgrades

Lumby's Pat Duke Arena getting a new roof

Mar 27, 2025

Explaining why the city moved in this week to clean up the site without prior notice, he said it was done in the interest of the safety and security of both people using the site and the staff operating there.

“I will also say that the vast majority of people, once explained as to the reasons for the efforts on site, have in fact cooperated and in some cases have expressed appreciation. All operations on the site remain visible for the public to witness as they like, and are 100 per cent transparent.”

The City is to reduce the size of each tent space following the clean up. Mead said the shelters had become dangerous – for example , because of the threat of fire – and the total amount of spaces will be reduced to 60.

“We have also found that the excessive accumulation material has been exacerbated by the amount of space in each site, to the point where it’s now presenting itself as a barrier to indoor sheltering. As such, starting today, as the ground is remediated, the site footprint will be reduced to eight feet by eight feet from 12 feet by 12 feet.”

Mead said the 60 sites will be offered to people who commit to following some basic site conduct rules, and are actively participating in casework that mirror much of what is expected to shelter indoors. Presumptive stolen material will not be permitted, nor will prohibited items such as improvised weapons.

As for who decides on who gets to use the site, he explained that’s not a decision in the hands of one person.

“This is a community conversation, our frontline serving partners … not-for-profit outreach partners who know the community best, and BC housing outreach teams who have been working to ensure the suitability and preparation to ensure people can enter shelter with some minor peripheral input from the city.”