Regina’s Camp Marjorie continues to grow

By Dallas Dahlseide

More than 100 tents now have been pitched at Camp Marjorie.

Regina’s Core Community Park, also known as Pepsi Park, is the site of Camp Marjorie. A week ago, there were roughly 20 to 30 tents set up in the camp. Since then, the numbers have skyrocketed, and are projected to go up as winter approaches.

Regina Police Chief Evan Bray said the city is trying to address the homelessness problem that continues to grow at an alarming rate.

“The city is taking a very active role in this. Between our police service and Regina Fire & Protective Services, we’re down there multiple times a day doing some safety and wellness checks,” Bray stated.

Bray mentioned the ultimate goal is to find these people a real home solution as soon as possible.

“There’s a lot of work going on behind the scenes right now to try and find a location where we can help transition this group of people that are looking for homes,” he said. “I think we can all agree sleeping outside in a tent, especially this time in the year, is not preferable.”

Bray said that while some people are using the area as a last-resort option for a place to stay, others are taking advantage by using it as a site to protest.

“I think the focus needs to be on those that are there because they don’t have a home to go to,” he said. “Some of them, it’s chronic homelessness. They haven’t had a home for a long time.”

Since the recent implementation of the Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS), experts suggest many people are now struggling to pay for their rent, food, or any other shelter options.

It’s only a matter of time until the outdoor conditions become overwhelming with -40 temperatures in the winter months. Bray said the city hopes to have the situation figured out in the nearby future.

“I think there’s some hope and optimism that it can happen in the very near future,” he said. “(People at the camp) can be moved into a location that’s indoors and heated, and then from there, we can transition into more permanent solutions for everyone.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an amended version of this story, attributing a comment in the story to Chief Evan Bray.