For years the Squamish River Estuary has been home to a growing number of squatters, and the problem has resurrected the idea of a municipally designated squatter's campsite.
Throughout the year, local environmental advocate John Buchanan and other volunteers clean up a proliferating number of abandoned squats. A few weeks ago, he and volunteers removed a camp from the middle of the river.
"We removed a total of seven cargo canoe loads of garbage, including three gallons of kerosene," Buchanan said.
If the kerosene had not been removed before the snowmelt, the oil would have ended up in the water. Buchanan said the toxic effects of fuel oil are quite obvious but the plastic left behind is equally as dangerous.
"People don't understand the consequences of plastic when it ends up in the water," Buchanan said. "My heart goes out to the squatters but their waste has to be managed at the end of the day."
When plastic in the form of tarps, boxes and bottles escape into the water, Buchanan said it is eventually broken up into a million little bits. He said an estimated 100,000 marine mammals die yearly from eating plastic in the Pacific Northwest.
While Buchanan said he doesn't begrudge people who choose to squat, the problem with squats in the estuary is their proximity to sensitive ecosystems that support fish and wildlife.
Buchanan said he is respectful of the squatters and often waits until a campsite is abandoned before beginning the clean up. The waste left behind is often overwhelming.
Environmental issues aside, Buchanan said squatting has social implications and perhaps it's time the district steps in.
"I think setting up a squatter camp or homeless shelter situation will go a long way," Buchanan said. "You will still have the person who chooses to live in the estuary anyway but it's a start."
The idea of an official squatters camp has been raised before. "There was talk of an official squatters campsite a few years ago and I thought it would be a great idea for those who choose to live outside," said Buchanan.
The municipal campground on Loggers Lane was discussed a few years ago as an appropriate place for people to set up in the winter. At the time former Mayor Ian Sutherland said the idea was an interesting possibility, but years later Mayor Greg Gardner has a different opinion.
"There is no discussion about an official squatters camp and the district has attempted to address the issue by providing a homeless centre," Gardner said.
Gardner said initiatives such as the proposed social housing project or the existing Helping Hands centre provide more value than a squatter's camp. Gardner is referring to a homeless shelter spearheaded by the Helping Hands Society. The multi-use building would include a new home for the drop-in centre, a permanent shelter on the second floor and small self-contained suites on the third and fourth floors.
The project is still in its initial stages and awaiting approval and funding from the district and BC Housing.
"We continue to provide funds for the operation for the Helping Hands Centre and the provincial government is providing funding for the extreme weather shelter aspect of the shelter," Gardner said.
