Tag Archives: Karen Mills

‘Where do people go?’: Over 1,600 homeless in Victoria far surpasses shelter space

Editor’s note: Betweenuary Jan 10 and 18, 20 – 70 people sought respite from the freezing temperatures in Campbell River’s Warming Centre every night.

By Alexandra Mehl, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Victoria, BC – When the cold weather snap brought record breaking temperatures through British Columbia, Victoria’s dropped to as low as -10 with a wind chill of -20 – a cold front that the unhoused population was not prepared for.

Continue reading ‘Where do people go?’: Over 1,600 homeless in Victoria far surpasses shelter space

Province proposes more restrictions to public drug use; advocate fears this will force people back into the shadows

Editor’s note: While the examples in this story are from Victoria, a July 2023 BC Government press release named the Greater Campbell River Health Area (which includes outlying areas like Cortes and Quadra Islands, as well as the city of Campbell River) among the six worst health areas in BC for unregulated drug deaths. 

By Alexandra Mehl, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Victoria, B.C. – On Oct. 5 the B.C. government announced its proposed amendments drug-use regulations, which would put illicit use more in alignment with the limits of tobacco, alcohol and cannabis in public places.

On Jan. 31 of this year, the province decriminalized personal possession of opioids (heroin, morphine, and fentanyl), crack and powder cocaine, methamphetamine (meth), and MDMA (ecstasy) in amounts of 2.5 grams and under.

Continue reading Province proposes more restrictions to public drug use; advocate fears this will force people back into the shadows