Police, fire department move in to clear Saskatoon encampment
Police and fire officials in Saskatoon cleared a homeless encampment on Thursday, citing safety concerns and recent fires. Residents expressed frustration and sadness, questioning where they are expected to go as the city moves to fence off the area.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the ongoing tension between municipal efforts to manage public safety and the lack of adequate housing solutions for vulnerable populations.
People living there expressed sadness, anger and fear about being woken up Thursday morning by police telling them to leave.
"Where do they expect people to go?" asked Genine Okanee, who had been living in the encampment for the last month.
Police and fire officials created a line of officers slowly advancing into the encampment. People scrambled to pack up and move their tents into the adjoining parking lot, where the encampment's exit is situated.
Over the ensuing hours, the camp grew smaller, but tents were still up in the parking lot as of Thursday afternoon. Dump trucks also moved onto the property and fencing was being put up to close off the area.
Police moved into a west-side encampment Thursday morning. Fencing was put up shortly after and police continued to advance as people living there scrambled to pack up. (Albert Couillard/CBC)
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