Gonzales

Gonzales and Pemberton Park Updates: As of September 26 there has been a decline in the number of people sheltering in Gonzales Park. At last report there is a single tent with one occupant most nights, along with 2-3 people sleeping in vehicles. Another truck load of garbage and discarded belongings was collected by the city after a group of tenters left. As of September 29 there were a minimum of three people in tents sheltering in Pemberton Park.

There are now 34 City of Victoria parks at which overnight sheltering is allowed, as indicated on the city's map below, and available on their website. Gonzales Beach, Pemberton, and Oaklands parks are the only three parks on the list that have been identified by the city for sheltering since the start of the pandemic in early 2020.​

Some tent users have been partially compliant with the sheltering bylaw's requirement to pack up between 7 am and 7 pm, while other tents have been left up during all or much of the day, and prevent access to picnic tables and park benches. The restriction against daytime camping was intended by BC courts to be a reasonable compromise between emergency overnight sheltering of unhoused people and recreational use of the park during the day. One or two tents continue to be placed right against private property adjoining the park, also contrary to the sheltering bylaw. Bylaw Services staff do not seem to be attending the park with sufficient regularity to maintain compliance.​

Click here for more information about the city's plan and how it may affect Gonzales.