South Van encampment being dismantled Friday

A South Vancouver encampment is set to be dismantled beginning at 9 a.m. Friday.

According to the Marpole Mutual Aid Network and Stop the Sweeps, police in Vancouver will enforce a Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) trespassing order at the encampment, which sits near the Oak Street Bridge and SW Marine Drive.

The Ministry of Housing explains eviction notices were issued on Jan. 22, with the notice period ending on Wednesday, Jan. 31.

As of midnight Thursday, the camp was told by police and other government officials that “they would be considered trespassing.”

The Marpole Mutual Aid Network is asking the ministry for “a few more days of grace, because people were taken by surprise.” This, co-founder Amal Ishaque says, would give people time to try and move their structures and belongings somewhere else, and connect with services and housing.

“Where do they go? People are getting kicked out of the Downtown Eastside in street sweeps, they’re coming here and now they’re going to be swept from here. Where will they go next?” Ishaque asked.

More to come.

–With files from Hana Mae Nassar and Michael Williams