Concerns raised over lack of cold weather shelters in southeast Vancouver Island's Oceanside region

With cold weather approaching, community workers in the Oceanside area, a region of small communities along Vancouver Island's southeast coast, are raising the alarm over a lack of warming centres and shelter space for those on the streets.

The area is known for its stunning ocean views and laid-back lifestyle, but community workers say the city has no definite plans for a cold-weather shelter for these communities, which include Parksville, Qualicum Beach and the surrounding rural area. Last winter, only one extreme weather shelter was opened temporarily in Qualicum Beach once temperatures dipped below zero.  

Risebridge, a non-profit organization run out of Nanaimo, says it has plans— and crucially, funding — in place to operate a warming centre and shelter but is being met with resistance from the City of Parksville. 

Recently, outreach workers asked to appear before Parksville council at a Nov. 4 council meeting but say they were denied. 

We don't want to see somebody freeze to death on the parks or the streets of Parksville," said Marnie Boers, a Risebridge director.

"It's completely unnecessary when there's actual funding available to be able to create this shelter space, and the city is just not taking the responsibility seriously enough."

Boers says that Risebridge has proven itself as an operator, having run a shelter in the Oceanside area in the past. 

Knox United Church has said it will offer shelter space as it has in previous years, with Risebridge as the service provider. 

Boers says Risebridge has secured funding from the federal Reaching Homes program for its work in Parksville and that funding is available through B.C. Housing with Risebridge as the provider for the Knox United shelter— but the money won't start flowing until the space becomes available. 

Bylaw blocking shelter 

According to Risebridge, the shelter is being blocked by a City of Parksville zoning bylaw that regulates the location, use and density of developments.

First adopted in 1994 and updated in 2018, it outlines zone CD-27 as the suitable area for a shelter facility. One location in Parksville is zoned CD-27 and is currently occupied by Orca Place supportive housing. Knox United is zoned P-2 as a private institutional facility. 

However, in previous years, shelters, including at Knox United Church, have operated despite the bylaw.

Mayor Doug O'Brien was not available for an interview, but the City of Parksville issued a statement.

"The [city] continues to work closely with Island Health, B.C. Housing and service providers to identify solutions for the Oceanside region, not just the City of Parksville," it said. "When more information becomes available, we will communicate to the public."

The city's hesitation on this has also attracted criticism from Moms Stop the Harm, who have been protesting outside of city hall every Friday. 

Jane McCormick, a member of the group, has been organizing rallies and says it's time the city stepped up.

"Not only is housing a human right federally, it is provincially, and the municipalities are responsible for doing their part to keep people housed," said McCormick. 

"It's like they don't care. The city council doesn't care."

Both McCormick and Boers say the situation is urgent as people have frozen on the streets in previous years in the winter.

Risebridge says they've been advised by the city that the process to change the bylaw and get the shelter running would take up to a year.