(City of Red Deer)

By Sheldon Spackman

Ready To Help

City crews ready to clean abandoned riverside encampment if needed

Mar 18, 2021 | 4:34 PM

The City of Red Deer says its waiting to hear whether its help is needed to clean up an abandoned rough sleeper camp just outside of the city.

Parks Superintendent John Eastwood says they found the trash-strewn remains of the camp, west of the QEII Highway along the north banks of the Red Deer River, through social media pictures shared by a hiker.

“We did a little research and found that it was out of city limits, so that’s when we reached out to our municipal enforcement and by their means, they inquired to (Red Deer) County, CP Rail and Alberta Transportation just to see as to what jurisdiction it fell under,” he recalls.

“Right now we’re actively waiting on CP Rail to respond back as to whether they’re going to be mobilizing their cleanup team on that and whether or not the City can help if needed.”

If that help is indeed needed, Eastwood says the City’s urban encampment team would respond.

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“It looked as though it was more garbage and debris. No structures were found. I think from the longevity that it was there, just an accumulation of debris.”

Whether set up by persons experiencing homelessness or others in the community, City officials say makeshift camps in Red Deer’s parks and green spaces pose a risk to health and safety for those who use them, and the community at large.

Camp debris often includes used needles and bio-hazards and can often present a fire hazard.

“We have our procedures and policies that we follow as far as taking care of our crews and ensuring that those things are taken away in the most-safest way possible,” explains Eastwood.

From December 2019 to December 2020, City crews found upwards of 350 rough sleeper camps – more than double what’s been seen in the past, according to Eastwood.

“Based on that, we’ve made it a priority within the city. We’ve got a dedicated crew that we try and get out as regularly as we can and clean them up as we find them and as we get them reported in to us.”

He adds, it’s not uncommon to receive increased reports of rough sleeper camps in and around Red Deer this time of year.

“Just due to the fact of the changing of the seasons and snow melting and people more out and about now,” he points out. “People are enjoying the warmer weather, so they’re seeing the winter debris and the leaves aren’t on the trees as of yet obviously, so they’re a little more noticed.”

To report an unsafe camp, residents can call the City of Red Deer, its Report a Problem page, or the non-emergency RCMP complaint line at 403-343-5575.