The eviction notice didn't give people much time. By Friday afternoon, the Fairview homeless encampment in Penticton was cleared out under a court-ordered injunction. Outreach workers stepped in to help about a dozen remaining residents pack up their belongings while RCMP officers stood by.
If you live in the Okanagan, you already know this story is far from simple.
Clearing tents off public property doesn't make unhoused people disappear. It just moves them. And when freezing November weather rolls in, displacing vulnerable people sparks fierce debates about public safety, municipal responsibility, and housing options that simply aren't there.
Why the Fairview Encampment Had to Go
Safety drove this decision. Months of mounting tension culminated in multiple fires on the site. One blaze spread directly onto the neighboring Leisureland RV Centre property, completely destroying two recreational vehicles.
Local business owners felt trapped. Yvonne Marsden, who owns Leisureland, watched the situation deteriorate for a long time. For her and other business owners in the area, the injunction came as a necessary step to protect local commerce and property.
At the same time, Marsden didn't mince words about the human cost. She acknowledged the reality facing those forced out. Where do they go next?
The Timing Problem and the Human Cost
Moving people out right as winter temperatures drop raises difficult questions. Critics of the sweep point out the lack of humane alternatives.
Citizen Danielle Savage stood near the site Friday to protest the timing. She noted that destroying modest shelter options right when freezing weather begins solves nothing. It only pushes people into deeper precarity.
John Tanghe, one of the residents forced to leave, told reporters he learned about the eviction on Monday and had to clear out by Friday. With few options and shelters running at full capacity, Tanghe planned to head to City Hall just to figure out his next move.
This isn't the first time Penticton has tried this. Authorities attempted to clear the exact same Fairview encampment back in June 2025. People drifted back because the structural gaps in the housing safety net remained unchanged.
What Local Critics Say the City Actually Needs
Tearing down tents is easy. Building a functional support system is hard.
Residents like Jeff Andrew argue that simple enforcement changes nothing without proper infrastructure. Penticton needs a broad spectrum of care. That means wet shelters, dry shelters, detox facilities, and drop-in spaces where people can survive during the day and sleep safely at night.
Right now, provincial support is stuck in limbo. Because of post-election caretaker rules, provincial officials refused to say whether extra shelter resources or emergency funds would materialize for the displaced residents.
Tents are gone from Fairview today. Tomorrow, those same people will need a place to sleep.
