FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Prince George, B.C. – At the March 23, 2026, meeting, Prince George City Council approved the final reading of changes to the Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw, to operate a temporary overnight sheltering (TOS) area on Lower Patricia Boulevard.
In municipalities where the number of unsheltered individuals is greater than the number of accessible shelter beds, individuals who cannot access shelter have a constitutional right to erect a shelter during overnight hours in public spaces. In Prince George, the only place individuals are permitted to set up overnight shelters is at the TOS site. All belongings must be removed by 9 a.m. and the site will be locked until it reopens at 7 p.m. daily.
The TOS site has been reduced to 2,699 m2 from 7,449 m2 and has capacity to accommodate 20 sheltering sites. Currently, demand for the present TOS site appears to be low, however, an overflow area has been designated for use only if all 20 spaces in the TOS site are occupied.
Fire risk
To date, staff have completed a number of improvements to the site to improve safety of residents in the Miller Addition and those who are sheltering overnight, reduce ongoing maintenance costs, and ensure efficient delivery of City services. Residents have voiced ongoing concerns around fires, however, under the new operating model at the TOS site, stricter enforcement around the lighting of fires is able to be applied. There is no plan for open burning to be permitted at the TOS site and there will be a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to fires.
Other improvements made to the site include:
- Posting signage setting out the relevant provisions of the Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw in plain language
- Site levelling and soil remediation
- Drainage improvements, including a gravel base in some locations intended to prevent pooling water and muddy conditions, and to facilitate access for maintenance and snow removal vehicles
- Wildfire fuel mitigation treatments, in the form of brush removal (fire break) around the site, per the recommendations of Prince George Fire Rescue
- Fencing and gates, which clearly delineate the TOS area and will assist in keeping the firebreak clear. These features will also efficiently accommodate garbage and snow removal services to the site, as necessary.
Last remaining entrenched site
All encampment residents from before the August 2025 court decision have now accepted offers of alternate housing. One trailer remains in place in what is now the overflow site but will be cleaned up in the coming days. Once the trailer is removed the City will close the overflow area to public access.
-30-
Media contact:
Kendall Robertson, senior communications advisor
Mobile: 778-349-5393
Email: media@princegeorge.ca