All year long (until the summer months arrive) I accept the unfortunate fact that we have a number of homeless folks living amongst us. I have never felt either intimidated nor resentful for their presence. Yet now come the summer migrant youth to our town.

Within the last week I have had to maneuver around a dozen of them sitting in the middle of a parking lot at mid-day. Watched them tether their dog on the shore of one of our beaches, where there are multiple “no dogs“ signs posted.

Walked across no less than 8-10 individuals sleeping rolled up in their blankets on the shores of our beloved OIiver canal. Bottles and clothing scattered among them on the ground, while tissues are scattered suspiciously on the other side of the walk-way (for their latrine) perhaps.

Watched in horror while one biked diagonally across the intersection by the town office, while he held up all four direction of vehicle travel. To then having to try to travel the main street(highway) while others jay-walked in either direction anywhere except at a cross-walk.

And no-one including myself had the nerve to  tell them to stop. I for one walk the rest of the year anywhere along the trails alone without fear- but now am careful to not draw attention to myself. It would seem that the rest of Oliver`s residents are just as intimidated. Have anyone else noted that they travel in gangs.

You will probably first tell me that the town workers have repeatedly tried to catch them camping along the canal, and other attempts to require these folks to abide by the same rules which the rest of us have to. This was the response I got this morning when  I spoke direct to a town worker. And I believe they have tried, but I don`t think that we should just shrug our shoulders and hunker down locked in our house, nervous about going to our local beach, or driving down the main street of town.

There must be something which the local town workers, the community itself and the local police can do to enforce local bylaws.

Brenda Hamilton

Civic address and phone number on file