Salmon Arm council frustrated by inaction on Hwy. 97B encampment

Mayor Alan Harrison said the city continues to lobby the B.C. government to take action on a Crown land encampment on Highway 97B. During the question and answer period of [...]

Salmon Arm council frustrated by inaction on Hwy. 97B encampment Published 4:00 pm Wednesday, July 15, 2026 Mayor Alan Harrison said the city continues to lobby the B.C. government to take action on a Crown land encampment on Highway 97B. During the question and answer period of the July 13 council meeting, council was asked about the encampment by the Highway 97B/10th Ave. NE intersection, and if the city is working with the Ministry of Transportation and Transiton on a way of “tidying it up.”

“I’ve seen this in other municipalities, in Vernon... at the underpass for example, there was quite an issue that led to quite an expense for the city, I think upwards of $50,000 to $100,000 in cleanup, and a lot of it was just difficulties with communicating to (the ministry). So is that something on the city’s radar as well?” asked Drayson Netzelwood. Harrison confirmed the property is on the city’s radar, explaining it belongs to the province and is under the ministry’s purview, meaning the city has no jurisdiction over it.

He added RCMP will respond only if criminal activity is reported. “We’re pretty frustrated,” said Harrison. “We’ve been working, lobbying the province, our MLA, for sometime and we will continue to do so.”

In November, councillors Tim Lavery and Louise Wallace Richmond met with a resident who lives near the encampment. In that meeting, concerns were raised around fire and environmental risks, and health and safety hazards at the encampment. One of those councillors was Louise Wallace Richmond who, at the Nov. 24 council meeting, said she was deeply concerned for residents in the neighbourhood, and for the “vulnerable people who live in encampments which are dangerous unsafe buildings, unsafe sanitation conditions and an unsafe situation all around.”

“Really, the answer is for everyone involved in this situation to get together and figure out a way forward because this is not a sustainable situation, it’s not going to get better,” said Wallace Richmond. “Do we have an ability to help in some way, yes. But it cannot be left in our hands alone and we need clarity around what the plan is for that piece of property and whether or not the Province... is considering any action as a result of this illegal encampment.

“Until we know that, it makes this very complicated. But we will continue to advocate on behalf of the neighbourhood.”