The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George is seeking legal options to evict campers from the front lawn of its offices, located on George Street in downtown Prince George.
For more than six months an encampment has occupied Millennium Park, a City of Prince George park located at the corner of First Avenue and George Street. Recently the encampment has spread onto the lawn of the regional district office located next door, regional district CAO Jim Martin told the regional district board on Thursday.
“Something we anticipate as the weather gets warmer, we expect encroachment on our property. It’s nice to see spring, but it’s unfortunate people aren’t respecting our property,” Martin said. “What is happening out there is not acceptable in my mind – camping on our property.”
Regional district staff have informed the campers that they are on private property and asked them to leave, Martin said. When that didn’t happen, City of Prince George bylaw officers were asked to intervene.
“They are still there, so we have contacted the RCMP,” Martin said.
The regional district is considering other legal options, including a possible court injunction, to remedy the situation, Martin said.
Regional district director and Prince George city councillor Kyle Sampson said the City of Prince George is also looking at measures to address encampments in the city and there will be “more to come, possibly before the next board meeting.”
