Land cleared to not have warming fires from homeless camps spread in Cold Lake

As temperatures get colder, Copeland says John Howard is the place to go for those who need a night’s stay or a meal. 

While the City didn’t want to tear down trees near the Tri-City Mall, or continue publicizing taking down homeless camps, the amount of warming fires caused from these situations made it a “fire smart” decision, says Mayor Craig Copeland.

A press release on Nov. 5 says that this privately-owned land along Highway 28 and 61 Avenue has attracted several homeless camps due to the thick bush and wooded areas.

Due to homes being closeby, there is fear a fire could start and spread quickly.

Copeland said on Wednesday that roughly 20 times one of these warming fires has required attention from the authorities.

“We worked with the business owner of that commercial lot and we removed most of the trees there, and it’s from a safety standpoint,” he told Lakeland Connect. 

In the couple of years, the growth of makeshift camps in and around the city limits has escalated. The City has strengthed bylaws and invested in the John Howard Society, which has room for overnight stays, especially in the winter.

 

But as the City points out, other municipalities across Canada are being taken to court for humans rights violations for taking down camps.

A court case in Waterloo, Ontario detailed that unless the people in the homeless encampment can be provided with somewhere else to go, the encampment could not be removed.

“Our philosophy is that we don’t want the camps. We don’t want the tents, we don’t want the structures in the City of Cold Lake. If you need a place to spend the night–the John Howard is there.” 

On Tuesday, Kokum’s House had its Grand Opening in the City. The property burnt down in a fire in March 2020.

They are looking to help sober men who’ve struggled, but are in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. This place will be for those who are wanting to get their life back on track.

The land was transferred from the City.

Rumours?

Copeland said he heard a rumour that the reason the homeless population has increased in Cold Lake is because he is subsidized personally from it. He said this is completely untrue.

He added that rumours that buses are coming from out of the Lakeland, or from Bonnyville, dropping off homeless people is just that, a rumour.

“It’s just not happening. People got to realize that there’s some movement of people that don’t have a house, that will come to Cold Lake. We’re the largest urban center in geographically for quite a big area. And also Cold Lake is known as a very helping and giving community.”