Angry confrontations marked the homeless campers’ first day at the West Saanich Road property where Saanich mayoral candidate David Shebib lives.
One of Shebib’s tenants, who rents a house on the property with his wife and another couple, called Shebib’s invitation to about 20 homeless people “bullshit.”
“Dave’s disappeared,” said the tenant, who appeared frustrated and angry.
The campers, who were forced to move out of Goldstream Provincial Park, said they expected a warmer welcome Tuesday than the one they received from someone they believed was the landlord or owner of the property.
“I wasn’t sure if we were going to be leaving tonight or whatever because of what was going on with the landlord. It was pretty ugly at first,” said Lynne Hibak, who lived in the tent city in Saanich’s Regina Park for five months.
“They were really nasty, demanding,” said camper Don Patenaude. “They said: ‘You guys are stupid. What are you doing here? You’ve got to leave. We’re going to get rid of you.’ ”
One of the tenants was talking about “breaking heads and busting tents,” said camper Morgan Van Humbeck.
“It doesn’t seem like it’s going to be a peaceful location. I thought it was going to be pretty chill,” he said.
“A neighbour drove by in a dump truck, honking his horn, finger out the window, yelling ‘F--- you guys,’” said Patenaude.
“Until they’ve been in our spot, they don’t know anything,” said his partner, Dee Dee.
Blair Este pitched his tent as a constant stream of cars roared by on West Saanich Road, far from the quiet of Goldstream.
“There was a lot of aggressive talk and some threatening behaviour and language,” said Este. “But this is expected behaviour. We’ve encountered it before. It just wears you down.”
There are buildings, trucks, cars and propane tanks on the sprawling property. Several recreational vehicles, including one with a wood stove, are parked on the property.
The campers have set up a number of tents, including a food tent, and furniture was being carried in Tuesday afternoon.
It’s not clear what the campers will use for toilets or if they will be able to shower.
Dee Dee said she decided not to stay at the Victoria Native Friendship Centre, which brought in 25 new mattresses on bed frames for the homeless campers.
“I just didn’t feel comfortable being away from all our friends. We’ve grown to be a family.”
At first, she didn’t know if she and Patenaude could be together at the centre, although she later learned they could.
“I think there’s been a lot of miscommunication as to what was expected and what was actually given. There was definitely a communication gap.”
Sitting in a camp chair, wearing a fur coat, Hibak said she was sticking with the group and camp organizer Chrissy Brett. “I’m not going to shelter after friggin’ shelter, after friggin’ shelter again. Where Mama Bear goes, we go. I’m going to stick with Mama Bear. I don’t want to leave her.”
