In a powerful display of solidarity, a group of approximately ten individuals, including residents of Kelowna’s tent city and concerned community members, marched to the city bylaw office on Friday. This protest, which began at an outdoor sheltering site, quickly gained momentum as more unhoused individuals joined the cause, united by a common grievance: the daily sweeps of their makeshift homes.
Voices of the unhoused
Chanting “stop the sweeps,” the demonstrators expressed their frustration over what they describe as unnecessary and frequent removals of tents by city officials. Erica Stewart, a former tent city resident, voiced her concerns, stating, “They used to come every few days to take more garbage or take big items.
Now it is like every single day, they are taking something.” This sentiment was echoed by many in the group, who argue that the removal of tents and the displacement of individuals have become a regular occurrence.
Stewart, who played a key role in organizing the march, highlighted the emotional toll of these actions.
“The constant cycle of losing everything and getting everything again, it’s a really crappy cycle to be stuck in,” she lamented. The protesters accused city officials of not only displacing them but also destroying and stealing their possessions during these sweeps.
Demanding accountability from city officials
Upon arriving at the bylaw office on Ellis Street, the protesters filled the small space, continuing their chants and demanding to speak with Nick Bonnett, the city’s bylaw services manager. Bonnett eventually emerged to address the crowd but declined to commit to a meeting to discuss their concerns in an official capacity.
“I will not commit to a conversation with you at this moment,” he stated, further fueling the protesters’ anger.
As tensions rose, demonstrators questioned Bonnett’s managerial role, labeling him a “puppet” of the city. Their demands for immediate action were met with resistance, leading to a heated exchange.
After the protest, Bonnett told Global News he needed time to “collect his thoughts” before
