Concerns are growing in a Vancouver Island community over a nearby encampment that neighbours say has been there for almost two decades.
Mike Gogo, who runs Gogo’s Christmas Tree Farm in South Nanaimo, told Global News that the encampment is about four miles away from his property.
“People are afraid to go up there and it is not a good scene,” he said.
The property off Nanaimo Lakes Road is not accessible from the road, but video taken by a drone shows campers, vehicles and what appears to be piles of debris littering the area.
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“It’s a terrible fire hazard,” Gogo said.
According to the Regional District of Nanaimo, there was an active file on the property between 2014 and 2019, but nothing since.
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Gogo said that just because there have been no complaints since 2019 doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be dealt with.
“Because it is up a side road, out of sight, out of mind,” he said.
“With most people, apathy reigns supreme.”
Gogo said he has yet to lodge a formal complaint, but would like the regional district to deal with the issue.
“They should come in there and clean it up,” he said.
“And whatever the cost is, shouldn’t come out of the public purse. It should come out of the owner of the property; that’s only fair.”
And we also know gogo is the biggest d*ck head going
Up north they just burn them out.
Homeless Camp 20 years and growing strong ! A proud NDP tradition ! Congratulations all around….maybe we can read the next article when the homeless camp celebrates making it to 30 years!
What is wrong with people today. You have the audacity to ask for help to make those people move! The you should pay for it. Find them all a place to go that suits your standards and go move them yourself. Oh right your to afraid of people to go have a talk with them and find out who they are, what they are about or why they are there. Its people like you that is a danger to society with your lack of empathy and refusal to aknowledge the suffering of anyone other than yourself.
Neighbour, singular, it sounds like. One that maybe wants to expand his tree farm for cheap, or even go poach trees from the neighbouring lot more easily. Just seems kind of convenient that this push from this one guy is coming up in perfect time for authorities to destroy unhoused people’s homes and clear the area before peak tree harvesting season. Merry Christmas.
Someone should do what someone did at that Richmond encampment.
That French Canadian d!rt bag was bragging about living for free and owning four campers and four days later she was burnt out and moving to an SRO. Hahaha
Looks like a F.N. Reserve