Tent camp in Regina’s Heritage neighbourhood dismantled

WATCH: Regina police ordered the dismantlement of a tent camp in the Heritage neighbourhood on Tuesday. Wayne Mantyka reports.

Regina police officers supervised the dismantling of a tent camp in the Heritage neighbourhood on Tuesday, with residents dispersing without any conflict.

Many residents of the camp were already packing as police arrived with an eviction order.

“I didn’t think I’d be this emotional having to see these people run like that. Get up and go. It’s crazy,” camp resident Candy Whiteswan said.

People tenting on the vacant lot next to Carmichael Outreach has been a common occurrence.

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There had been an earlier attempt to fence off the property but that didn’t last. Community volunteers who help the unhoused, including Tiro Mthembu, were on scene to offer what assistance they could.

“When these encampments are displaced, not only is it traumatizing, the reality is that they don’t have housing waiting for them,” he said.

“There’s no options so this is just further traumatizing a community that is vulnerable, marginalized and pushed into corners of our society.”

Some camp residents planned to stay with friends. Others were still deciding where to go.

“Some of us didn’t even live in tents, you know. We just had to cover up with a blanket. Living like this was bad. We’re like family here. We are. We help each other,” camp resident Denise Ryder said.

Some camp residents took the afternoon to pack their belongings. Others left possessions behind, while some relocated their tents to other vacant properties in the neighbourhood.