BC Supreme Court Injunction Information

BC Supreme Court Injunction Information: Timeline

December 11, 2018: The City of Maple Ridge has filed an application with the BC Supreme Court to seek Court authority to address significant fire safety issues at the camp located at St. Anne Avenue on 223 Street. The full release can be found at this link.

The City of Maple Ridge’s injunction Application to the BC Supreme Court Can be found at this link.

January 14 & 15, 2019: Over a two-day hearing which concluded on January 15 the City of Maple Ridge appeared before Mr. Justice Grauer of the BC Supreme Court seeking an injunction to address the fire and other life safety hazards at the camp located on 223 Street west of St. Anne Avenue. The Court has reserved its decision on the City’s application, meaning that Justice Grauer will consider his decision and deliver it in writing to the parties at a future date. Justice Grauer did not give any indication as to when his decision will be issued, but evidence of the urgency of the fire hazard situation at the encampment was provided to the Court. The full media release can be found at this link.

February 9, 2019: On Friday, February 8 the BC Supreme Court granted an injunction giving the City of Maple Ridge the authority to address safety issues in the camp located on 223 Street west of St. Anne Avenue. The full media release can be found at this link.

The full ruling by the BC Supreme Court can be found here.

February 21, 2019: On Thursday morning, February 21, as a preliminary step in bringing the site into compliance with the BC Supreme Court Order, members of the Maple Ridge Fire Department conducted an inspection of the St. Anne Camp to map out the location of all tents and structures. The full media release can be found at this link.

February 22, 2019: On Friday, February 22, occupants of the camp were provided with 24 hour notice that all tents and structures will be inspected for materials that are prohibited on the site as outlined in the BC Supreme Court order. The full media release is available at this link.

February 23, 2019: Enforcement of the BC Supreme Court Order began with inspections of all of the tents and structures to remove ignition sources and accelerants that pose a life and fire safety hazard on the site. The full release can be found at this link.

February 24, 2019: Work continued on the enforcement of the BC Supreme Court Order. Additional propane tanks, fuel cans, patio heaters and a gas powered generator were located during the inspections. They were removed from the site and disposed of. The full release can be found at this link.

February 26, 2019: Dealing with the St. Anne Camp continues to be a top priority for the City of Maple Ridge. On Friday, February 22, work began to enforce the BC Supreme Court Order. The full media release can be found at this link.

February 28, 2019: The City of Maple Ridge is returning to the BC Supreme Court requesting remedies to address the obstruction of City workers in carrying out the terms of the Court Order and for mechanisms to ensure the safety of City workers who are conducting work on the site. The full news release can be found at this link.

March 1, 2019: Third Fire at St. Anne Camp site. The full news release can be found here.

March 1, 2019: Late Friday afternoon, March 1, the City of Maple Ridge was advised that an Evacuation Order was issued for the St. Anne Camp site by the Provincial Fire Commissioner after an application by Maple Ridge Fire Chief Howard Exner. The full news release can be found here.

March 2, 2019: On Saturday, March 2 the City of Maple Ridge activated the Emergency Support Services (ESS) team to provide a Reception Centre for the people occupying the St. Anne Camp who are being evacuated from the site. The Reception Centre will be located on Lougheed Highway east of 222 Avenue where the Salvation Army has been providing emergency cold weather beds. The ESS team consists of City staff supported by trained volunteers. The full news release can be found here.

March 2, 2019: Late Friday afternoon, March 1, the City of Maple Ridge was advised that an Evacuation Order was issued for the St. Anne Camp site by the Provincial Fire Commissioner after an application by Maple Ridge Fire Chief Howard Exner. On Saturday, March 2, that evacuation was completed and the site is now closed and secured. Security personnel are stationed at the site 24 hours a day and supported by the RCMP. The full news release can be found here.

March 3, 2019:The Maple Ridge Fire Department began their work on the site today and removed a significant quantity of ignition sources and accelerants from the site. In total there were 34 propane cylinders removed from the site ranging from consumer to commercial sizes. The full news release can be found here.

March 4: The Maple Ridge Fire Department and Bylaws Department continue their work to address the fire safety of the St. Anne site under the terms of the Fire Evacuation Order. The full release can be found here.

March 5: Work continues to remove trees and shrubs damaged by the fires on the site. Crews continue to remove debris and soil where fires have occurred. The full release can be found here.

March 5: On Tuesday, March 5, Maple Ridge Council unanimously passed a resolution at the Workshop Meeting to address the Province’s request for the City of Maple Ridge’s Social Housing Plan. The full release can be found here.

March 8: The Maple Ridge Fire Department and Bylaws Department will continue their work to address the fire safety of the St. Anne site under the terms of the Fire Evacuation Order through the upcoming weekend. The full release can be found here.

March 11: The Fire Evacuation Order at the St. Anne Camp site will come to an end on Monday, March 11 at 12:00 pm. The full release can be found here.

March 12: On Tuesday, March 12, Maple Ridge Council unveiled their Social Housing Plan in response to a request by the Honourable Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs & Housing. The full release can be found here.

March 13: On Friday, March 8, the BC Court of Appeal heard an application brought by the St. Anne Camp occupants to obtain leave to appeal various elements of the February 8 Order which had been granted to the City. The full release can be found here.

March 15: On Tuesday, March 12, Maple Ridge Council unanimously endorsed a Social Housing Plan which outlines an approach to address the immediate and long-term housing needs of Maple Ridge residents. In response, the Minister of Municipal Affairs & Housing has expressed concerns about the recommendation to place additional units on the existing Royal Crescent temporary modular housing site that would address the immediate needs to end the occupation of the St. Anne site. The full release can be found here.

March 21: The City of Maple Ridge continues to enforce the BC Supreme Court Injunction granted on February 8, 2019. The Site Safety Plan remains in effect and 24-hour security patrols continue to ensure that the site can only be accessed by verified camp occupants, their legal counsel and outreach workers and others working on behalf of Provincial Government agencies. The full release can be found here.

July 16: Consistent with previous direction from the BC Supreme Court, a July 15 judgment of Mr. Justice Grauer has reaffirmed the original Court Order relating to the occupation of the St. Anne lands in Maple Ridge, and confirmed the City’s conduct related to the implementation of these Orders. The full release can be found here.

August 1: On Thursday, August 1, City of Maple Ridge staff removed a temporary structure constructed by Dwayne Martin, one of the original occupiers of the St. Anne Camp. In June, Mr. Martin agreed to leave the camp, without condition, through a Consent Order granted by the BC Supreme Court. As part of that agreement, Mr. Martin has been provided with housing services and BC Housing has moved his personal possessions to his new residence. The full release can be found here.

September 13: Work on a new neighbourhood park in Port Haney will begin on the land which was the site of the St. Anne encampment since May of 2017. The remaining residents of the camp were provided with priority access to the new Garibaldi Ridge temporary modular housing facility, located on Burnett Street, resulting in the closure of the camp. The full release can be found here.