City Hall encampment protesters forced to move from shaded park to concrete amid heat wave

On Sunday afternoon, the sun was beating down on the hot pavement of City Hall.

Unhoused protesters and pitched tents — once under the trees at the park adjacent to the building — were scattered throughout the forecourt, some seeking shade, others under the sun.

On Friday, protesters who had spent over a month at the City Hall Peace Park were asked to move. A city spokesperson said 60 notices of trespass were issued.

Some people were sitting near the fountains on Sunday, where it was slightly cooler, but even that shade offered little relief.

"The heat's been scorched. There's no reprieve from it. I'm pretty much burnt to a crisp now because of it," John Phillips, an unhoused protester with the Hamilton Encampment Support Network (HESN) told CBC Hamilton.

Phillips hasn't had a "stable place to call home" for around four years, he said.

For the last 42 days, since May 26, over 100 housed and unhoused protesters, some with HESN, had been demanding to speak with councillors after being ordered to leave trails and parks.

In March, the city restarted enforcing its bylaw that bans tents in public spaces. 

On July 4, HESN housed protester, Leah McMillan, said around 25 officers from Hamilton police and bylaw services as well as paramedics showed up at the encampment.

McMillan told CBC Hamilton on Sunday that it wasn't unusual for city staff to tell them to clear the park since the ending of the encampment protocol in January.

"But this time was something different, where they claimed that the grass needed to be remediated," they told CBC Hamilton.

A City of Hamilton spokesperson, James Berry, told CBC Hamilton protesters were not asked to move because of the grass restoration work, but rather the city and police carried out enforcement of the parks bylaw, which doesn't permit encampments in public parks.

"With the area cleared, Parks staff are beginning the process of restoring the grass so it can be safely used and enjoyed by everyone," Berry said.

Berry said there are no fines related to the notices of trespass issued and added, since the day after the protest started, police and bylaw officers have "carried out 12 enforcement operations," at the Peace Park, which is near the corner of Bay and Main Streets. 

"These operations also consist of the City Housing Focus Street Outreach team visiting the site daily to actively engage with individuals," he said.

Temperatures reached a high of 34 C on Sunday

Temperatures on Sunday were as high as 34 C, with a humidex of 39. A heat warning issued by Environment Canada was in effect for the area the whole weekend. 

City Hall is one of the designated cooling places people can go to during a heat wave. However, these spots are only available during business hours, so those sitting outside during the weekend couldn't go into the building for a break from the heat.

Phillips said he suffered from heat stroke on Saturday. He said after all this time asking council to meet, only one councillor, Ward 2's Cameron Kroetsch, has approached them to speak.

He said he feels like council doesn't care about the wellbeing of those experiencing homelessness. 

Berry said protesters were given resources to register as a delegate at committee, but no official requests to "meet with council as a delegation," have been received.

He also said the city wants to make sure the space is used safely "while recognizing the public nature of its use," and respecting the right to protest.

"With this balanced approach in mind, and in consideration of the escalating health and safety concerns in the forecourt, Municipal Law Enforcement officers, with the support of Hamilton Police Service, attended the site to encourage individuals to leave," he said.

Despite city housing outreach workers being present while people were being asked to move on Friday, Phillips said no one had an answer on where unhoused protesters would go.

"They said they had 27 beds in shelters, but we had anywhere from 100 to 150 people here," he said.

Phillips added people in encampments don't feel safe. 

"Not everybody wants to be out here on the streets. I would love, love to be able to go into a home and call it mine and lay my head down on a pillow … instead of not knowing where I'm going to be each night."

McMillan said since being removed from the grass, a few people have decided to leave City Hall for a variety of reasons, including police presence and the constant heat.

"What happens when you displace people is you put them in more and more precarious situations," they said.

"Every time someone is displaced ... that is a violent phenomenon. You are forcing someone out of what relative stability they possibly could have and back into the complete unknown."