
Authorities moved in this morning to clear out the encampment at Oppenheimer Park.
The formal eviction notice to the encampment of protesters and the homeless came with a deadline of 10 p.m. Wednesday night, however the Vancouver Police and the City of Vancouver opted to wait until Thursday morning to dismantle the camp.
Wearing body cameras, authorities cleared the camp of people, making room for staff from the City to come in to remove the debris.
Additionally, the City provided the campers with bins for their belongings, and are moving the people into shelters, reports CBC Vancouver.
By late Wednesday night, the City reported they had already successfully relocated over a hundred people from the park to shelters and housing, and that the number of tents was significantly reduced.
A City rep says the campers have been very respectful of the dismantling process.
Wednesday’s slated shut-down was marred by the discovery of a deceased male inside one of the tents. The victim is thought to be a 69-year-old man, and his death is not considered suspicious.
The Oppenheimer Park camp was set up in mid-July by activists as a means to draw attention to the issue of homelessness in Vancouver.
Park Rangers and Fire Dept dismantling empty tents at Oppenheimer Park. So far, police supervising and recording. pic.twitter.com/LuVpPxh7m4
— Nafeesa Karim (@nafeesakarim) October 16, 2014
Vancouver police with GoPro cameras observing tent take down #OppenheimerPark pic.twitter.com/Qfo4yRe3Fe
— Pivot Legal Society (@pivotlegal) October 16, 2014
City staff now starting to dismantle camp in Oppenheimer Park as police stand guard. pic.twitter.com/FZaaACJO8l
— Martin MacMahon (@martinmacmahon) October 16, 2014
Park rangers, lots of police & media here as tent city thins out at #Oppenheimer pic.twitter.com/BgpidJ9ViA
— Mike Howell (@Howellings) October 16, 2014
Les employés de @CityofVancouver nettoient parc #Oppenheimer. Bcp policiers en renfort mais assez calme. #rccb pic.twitter.com/OhkNsYQVHT
— Saïda Ouchaou (@SaidaOuchaou) October 16, 2014
At #oppenheimerpark today. Gives "Walking on pins and needles" a new meaning. pic.twitter.com/KduHI6l0mi
— Adnan Hussain (@tvmanbc) October 16, 2014
There are some people packing up to leave this morning at Oppenheimer Park. #cbc pic.twitter.com/UUl2pP1F4w
— Richard Zussman (@richardzussman) October 16, 2014
Lots of needles and needle packages around Oppenheimer Park. #cbc pic.twitter.com/XkaCzMJIpM
— Richard Zussman (@richardzussman) October 16, 2014
Featured image: @SaidaOuchaou/Twitter