The stables at Kin Race Track have been empty of horses for some time. Now the homeless people who camped there over the winter have been moved on.

"It was all about public safety," said Clint Kanester, City of Vernon's manager of protective services. “There were far too many needles being found and we were receiving a number of complaints from the neighbourhood about behaviours, theft and other illegal activity.

“With spring having already come early and the park usage about to increase, it was time that they found other places to go.”

A number of homeless people moved in over the winter, using the stables as protection from the cold. One horse box was even kitted out with a tent.

Service providers from the John Howard Society and other agencies as well as the RCMP visited the site to make contact with all of the inhabitants over a two-week period at the end of March into early April, said Kanester.

“All were given notice under the Trespass Act. Many moved on, stopped coming there or were housed by John Howard. At least one was arrested on outstanding warrants.”

Five individual trespass notices were handed out. On the day the notice took effect, only one female was still staying there full-time who had refused any services.

"We talked to a number of other individuals who we happened to find on the site after the 'No Trespassing' signs were put up, and during and after the times that the social agencies started to pay some visits to the site."

There had been efforts over the winter to move the transients at the track to inside accommodation, but a number refused. Social service officials said those people probably suffered from severe addictions.

Photo: Kate Bouey

File photo.