By Keith Lacey, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter/Penticton Herald
A Penticton senior, recognized and appreciated for his long-standing efforts to pick up trash and remove invasive weeds along the Penticton Channel Parkway, was verbally attacked Wednesday by three homeless individuals from a controversial encampment. This incident occurred just two weeks after he was physically assaulted by another person from the same site.
Allan Garland, 82, is a familiar figure to many local motorists as the tall, older gentleman who has been collecting trash between Warren and Fairview Avenues for the past decade.
As he has done regularly for years, Garland was weeding along the channel parkway Wednesday morning when he was confronted by two young men香蕉视频直播攚hom he had never seen before香蕉视频直播攁nd a young woman he had previously encountered. She had earlier threatened to sic her pit bull on him.
香蕉视频直播淚 was near a campsite香蕉视频直播攎ore like a storage area香蕉视频直播攐n the east side of Ellis Creek in a willow patch that we香蕉视频直播檙e trying to restore,香蕉视频直播� said Garland. 香蕉视频直播淭hese campers have destroyed a lot of the willows, but they香蕉视频直播檙e regenerating. There are willows and roses in there, and the beavers are active.
香蕉视频直播淚 had already removed the campers香蕉视频直播� belongings. I didn香蕉视频直播檛 know who they belonged to香蕉视频直播攋ust some clothing, a few bags, a wheeled suitcase, and other items. I had taken this material out of the willow patch on the side of the creek, which is government land.香蕉视频直播�
He had placed the items into a shopping cart.
Garland was joined by a fellow volunteer香蕉视频直播攕omeone he doesn香蕉视频直播檛 know personally香蕉视频直播攚ho drives around Penticton collecting abandoned shopping carts left by homeless individuals.
香蕉视频直播淭his fellow dropped in to see if there were any carts to pick up, but there weren香蕉视频直播檛,香蕉视频直播� said Garland. 香蕉视频直播淭he two of us were on the east side of the creek near the willow patch when the young woman and two young men from the west side of the creek crossed over and began making a big fuss about me handling the campers香蕉视频直播� goods.香蕉视频直播�
While he was not physically harmed, all three individuals were verbally aggressive, said Garland.
香蕉视频直播淭hey started attacking both of us verbally,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭hey were swarming us and using a lot of foul language.香蕉视频直播�
Garland clarified that online rumors claiming he was physically assaulted during this encounter are inaccurate.
香蕉视频直播淚 wasn香蕉视频直播檛 pushed or touched,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭he younger man who collects carts told the RCMP officer that he had been pushed, but I didn香蕉视频直播檛 see it. I told the officer that if it was an assault, it was a minor one.香蕉视频直播�
Even though he wasn香蕉视频直播檛 physically harmed, Garland emphasized that being verbally harassed by strangers while trying to clean a public space was still disturbing.
He also raised concerns about the fire risk posed by the growing encampment, particularly with the onset of warmer weather.
The woman who yelled profanities appeared to be in her mid-20s, and the two men seemed a bit younger, he noted.
香蕉视频直播淚t lasted maybe two or three minutes,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 wasn香蕉视频直播檛 afraid. The woman didn香蕉视频直播檛 have her dog this time. She owns a pit bull. We crossed paths a couple of weeks ago, and I dared her to set the dog on me香蕉视频直播攂ut she turned and walked away.香蕉视频直播�
Two weeks ago, Garland was out on another patrol, enjoying a coffee south of Ellis Creek near the Warren Avenue oxbow, when he was physically attacked by a young man camping alone.
香蕉视频直播淗e was upset that I had moved some abandoned items several days earlier on the east side of the creek,香蕉视频直播� Garland recalled. 香蕉视频直播淗e climbed up the embankment and hit me. That incident was captured on dashcam. The people in the car gave the footage to the police.香蕉视频直播�
The attacker was wearing mittens reinforced with metal plates, said Garland.
香蕉视频直播淎s far as I know, police went down and evicted him later that day. His campsite was removed,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 chose not to file a report myself, as I wasn香蕉视频直播檛 seriously hurt, though I still have a scar on my knee and one finger from hitting the pavement. He split my lip, which is almost healed. He definitely deserved to be spoken to by police.香蕉视频直播�
Garland estimates that 40 to 50 homeless people are now sheltering along the channelway.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 getting a little rough out there,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淢any are not courteous香蕉视频直播攖hough some are very nice. One fellow always asks me how he can help.香蕉视频直播�
As a longtime B.C. Parks volunteer, Garland admits he has told some campers they should leave.
香蕉视频直播淚f I submit a formal notice, it goes through head office in Victoria and then back to the local director in Penticton,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淟ately, with the encampment growing, I haven香蕉视频直播檛 seen the director take any action.香蕉视频直播�
Garland said he香蕉视频直播檚 likely to avoid working near the encampment for now.
香蕉视频直播淚 think a few of these people are becoming more bold or empowered,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淪ome are getting aggressive.香蕉视频直播�
Despite the negative encounters, Garland said most of the people he meets at the encampment are friendly and cooperative, though a few seem to be looking for trouble.
香蕉视频直播淭here are quite a few who have been there a long time and try to be respectful and keep the area clean,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut there are a few who just aren香蕉视频直播檛 very nice.香蕉视频直播�
Garland plans to attend a site cleanup of the encampment area today (May 31) from 1香蕉视频直播�3 p.m., organized by 100 More Homes Penticton in partnership with the City of Penticton, Penticton Indian Band, and the provincial government.
香蕉视频直播淩esidents of the encampment have been asking for an opportunity to dispose of items, and we are thankful to the province for providing this resource, which was advocated for by our 香蕉视频直播楲ived/Living Experience Table,香蕉视频直播澫憬妒悠抵辈 said 100 More Homes in a Thursday news release.
A major part of Garland香蕉视频直播檚 volunteer work involves removing invasive species such as knapweed and Russian thistle, which can cause ecological damage if left unchecked.
香蕉视频直播淚 do it every other day or so,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 like to get the knapweed when it香蕉视频直播檚 young. My career background helps. These weeds blow along the highway and spread easily. They have to be removed.香蕉视频直播�
Garland spent much of his youth in Penticton after his parents moved from Winnipeg in the 1970s.
香蕉视频直播淚 came here for about a year and a half to help them settle in and ended up working in orchards, which led to my job with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency,香蕉视频直播� he said.
In his view, it香蕉视频直播檚 time to take action before the encampment becomes even more of a hazard.
香蕉视频直播淚 think people in authority need to act,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭he government has resource officers, but when I submit a note, it has to go through Victoria.
香蕉视频直播淧eople are allowed to camp on government land for two weeks香蕉视频直播攂ut after that, they香蕉视频直播檙e no longer legally allowed to be there.香蕉视频直播�
After retiring to Penticton in 2007 following a long career with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Garland joined the South Okanagan Naturalists香蕉视频直播� Club and became actively involved in their work.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 a proud B.C. Parks volunteer香蕉视频直播攑robably the only one you香蕉视频直播檒l meet in Penticton,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e been doing this for the past 10 years. Last summer, the Conservation Officer Service even gave me an award for my volunteer work.香蕉视频直播�
Knapweed, he noted, is a particularly problematic weed that continues to grow through the winter and produces thousands of seeds. It displaces native vegetation and contributes to erosion and runoff.
With the Ministry of Environment香蕉视频直播檚 approval, Garland began removing weeds along the highway between Warren and Fairview. He has pulled tall mustard, prickly Russian thistle, and countless knapweed plants.
香蕉视频直播淚 also noticed a lot of human trash香蕉视频直播攕o I started picking that up too,香蕉视频直播� he said.
