North Vancouver's Bowser Island encampment cleared as remaining campers ordered to leave

Police, bailiffs and heavy equipment arrived Wednesday morning at Bowser Island as the Province of British Columbia moved to clear the final residents from a sprawling RV encampment that has occupied Ministry of Transportation property for several years.

The island sits flanked by Capilano Road off-ramps and Highway 1 in North Vancouver. In June, Ministry of Transportation officials and North Vancouver RCMP handed out legal notices telling campers to clear out or face a court order to force them out. Some packed up and left; others received help from BC Housing finding new places to live. The Ministry agreed to store some RVs for a limited time and to help cover storage-locker costs during resettlement.

By Wednesday afternoon, those remaining faced an imminent deadline. A camper named Paul said he had to get his truck out before authorities left for the day. "Not optimal, but possible," he said of leaving by end of day. Paul had nowhere else to go and didn't know where he was headed. "I'd like to stay on the North Shore, where I have medical and mental health supports," he said. The reason he stayed at Bowser Island, Paul explained, was simple: "until I'd go to jail if I didn't do it."

Front-end loaders were clearing piles of garbage Wednesday, and a flatbed truck was taking apart abandoned RVs. BC Housing outreach workers were on site.

James, another camper, spent about two years living in a camper on the property before leaving a month ago. BC Housing helped him find a bachelor apartment in downtown Vancouver. "It's a step in the direction I wanted to be," James said. "I'm happier than at Bowser Island. It's clean. There's no drug use or drug addicts in the hallways." He called his time at the encampment "a blessing" and said he left on good terms. "The moment they say it's time to go, it's time to go," James reflected. "I never wanted to get too comfortable."

When campers first began parking RVs on the site a few years ago, the encampment mostly flew under the radar, though Ministry of Transportation staff knew they were there. Earlier this summer, one person arrived with extra RVs and began renting them out. Police and fire marshals attended regularly after that. Neighbours in Pemberton Heights pointed to the encampment as a source of thefts and garbage.