City begins enforcing bylaws at encampment in Cambridge's Soper Park

On Wednesday morning, the City of Cambridge began enforcing its bylaws at an encampment at Cambridge's Soper Park. This comes after a notice had been posted in the park indicating that those who "dwell, camp or reside in a park" could face charges if they don't vacate under the Trespass to Property Act. 

Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS), Canadian Pacific Police Service and John Mattocks, Cambridge's manager of municipal bylaw compliance, were present Wednesday. 

"So we've been working with these folks since early August to let them know that they wouldn't be able to stay here," said Mattocks. 

"And last week we did put a reminder notice that they still couldn't be staying here, and today we're here to ensure compliance with the notice and our bylaws." 

Personal items were collected in piles — seemingly from residents — and were laid out by the road with reports by one advocate on the scene who said that some residents had already been moved, however the city said this wasn't the case.

"No residents on city property were removed from the site," said city spokesperson, Allison Jones, in an email statement. "Work is still underway to assist the [four] individuals on city property as they prepare to move on to their alternative housing options."

City property vs private property

Mattocks said that their efforts Wednesday only applied to encampment residents on city property. 

"This is not city property," he said, standing near a small encampment which still had a handful of residents on the outskirts of the park near the railway. "So this area belongs to the [Canadian Pacific Kansas City]."

"We have a couple of spots on city property and our expectation today is we'll ensure compliance with our notice and our bylaws." 

There were reports that some of the Soper Park residents had congregated at the site following their removal from the former encampment at 150 Main St. last month. 

"The priority has been to connect [residents] with safer, sustainable, and healthier housing alternatives, and ensure they were aware that remaining on the site is prohibited under the parks bylaw," said Jones. 

"Recently, the city issued a notice to these individuals, reminding them of their requirement to vacate the area. Those who fail to do so, will be in violation of the Trespass to Property Act and may be arrested or receive a fine."

'It's heartbreaking'

Amanda Speed, who was a resident of 150 Main Street, and who now visits Soper Park daily, was saddened by the scene.

"It's heartbreaking watching this happen again and again and again," said Speed, who is experiencing homelessness, continuing to live out of her trailer.  

"Where are they going? They're just going to go to another place and they're going to be complained about there and they're going to have to move again in a month or so."

Concerns about displaced residents

The executive director of ACCKWA, Ruth Cameron, is concerned about displacing people experiencing homelessness regularly and said that when done, it makes it difficult to get them the services that they need.

"It also makes it challenging for individuals to remain connected within their communities of trusted individuals who are experiencing the same hardships that they are, who look out for one another to try and increase their safety and well-being," Cameron said. 

ACCKWA does outreach to this population alongside Sanguen Health Centre, Cameron explained. 

"It means that the teams at the organizations are spending more of their time on finding individuals, and less of the time on the actual specific supports that we can offer to those individuals," she said.  

Cameron said that they don't see sanctioned encampments as the "end solution," but as a level of "stability" until a proper solution is found, and questions where the municipality expects these people to go instead. 

"The city could refrain from constant displacement of the individuals," she said. "It is very dehumanizing, but it is also very dangerous. These are people who, needless to say, when someone is experiencing this level of marginalization, it has an impact on their health."