Bylaw, Police, and Métis Outreach Team Collaborate to Safely Close Encampment and Support Occupants

The City of Prince Albert, in collaboration with the Prince Albert Police Service and the Prince Albert Métis Women's Outreach Team, has successfully closed a large encampment on the city's South side, providing assistance to its occupants while ensuring public safety.

Earlier this Fall, a significant encampment was discovered by the City's Bylaw Division and the Prince Albert Police Service in a secluded wooded area. The camp consisted of numerous tents, open fires, latrine pits, and an underground dwelling resembling a root cellar.

On October 8, 2024, City Bylaw Officers visited the site, notifying the occupants of the camp's closure. By October 9, City staff, in partnership with the Police Service and Métis Women's Outreach Team, returned to assist in safely clearing the area. The Prince Albert Police maintained peace, allowing Outreach staff to meet with the encampment's occupants and connect them to support services. Meanwhile, City Bylaw Officers confiscated several weapons, and Sanitation workers removed three truckloads and one trailer worth of waste. The Parks Department began the demolition of the underground structure, which posed a serious safety hazard with the approaching winter and snow season.

This coordinated effort demonstrates the City of Prince Albert's commitment to addressing encampments through a compassionate yet firm approach.

"Large encampments pose risks to both the occupants and the surrounding community," said Anna Dinsdale, Community Safety and Well-Being Manager, "By intervening with the help of partners like the Métis Women's Outreach Team, we can offer necessary support to those in need while ensuring public safety and restoring affected areas."

The encampment strategy is just one of several initiatives led by the City's Community Safety and Well-Being team. This strategy aims to tackle complex social issues such as homelessness by developing partnerships that promote safety and well-being for the entire community. One such initiative is 'journey mapping' for homelessness, which streamlines services, improves access, and ensures more effective outcomes for both service providers and individuals experiencing homelessness. Community agencies are encouraged to participate in the journey mapping process by completing a survey available here: https://bit.ly/4eXLrqC.

For more information on the City's ongoing Community Safety and Well-Being initiatives, visit https://www.citypa.ca/cswb.

Contact:
Anna Dinsdale
Community Safety and Well-Being Manager
Community Development Department
Phone: (306) 953-4140