Urgent Cleanup on Lewis Street: Tents Cleared Amid Health Crisis

UPDATE: North Cowichan officials have just confirmed the urgent clearing of encampments on Lewis Street, a site notorious for homelessness and health hazards. On November 18, 2025, local authorities, assisted by the RCMP, moved over 50 individuals from the area, prompting relief from nearby residents but raising concerns about the future of those displaced.

Residents have long expressed their distress over the situation. Larry Woodruff, a local advocate, stated, “Eight years of watching people suffer and they’re here because they have nowhere else to go.” Neighbors have endured open drug use near schools and rising crime, which has even led to increased insurance costs for homeowners in the vicinity.

The urgency of this cleanup follows the outbreak of a highly contagious intestinal illness, Shigellosis, reported among the unhoused population, attributed to unsanitary living conditions. Brendan Warken, who spent 13 days hospitalized due to the illness, shared the harsh reality: “I still feel like crap. I was so malnutritioned that I lost 26 pounds.”

The situation highlights the inadequate facilities available for the unhoused. Jacqueline Couturier, a resident at the Warmland Shelter, emphasized, “They’re living in bacteria,” pointing out that poor hygiene in encampments contributes to public health risks.

Kirk Wilson, a contractor involved in local renovations, noted the necessity of the cleanup, stating, “This is so much better than it was and it was essential for everybody.” Despite the immediate relief, the mayor of North Cowichan, Rob Douglas, warns that dismantling encampments is not a permanent fix: “Breaking up these encampments is not a long-term solution. These are some of the most vulnerable members of our community.”

As officials attempt to secure housing for the displaced, they face a significant shortage of available spaces. Recently cleared individuals have already set up tents in nearby areas, including a bird sanctuary. Couturier reported, “They’ve been situated at three different dykes, which is actually in the swamp.”

Authorities plan to open a temporary winter shelter with 20 spaces at Duncan’s former Ramada hotel as soon as next week, adding to the over 30 beds at the Warmland Shelter. However, this is far fewer than the number of unhoused individuals currently in Cowichan, who are now on the move searching for new locations to camp.

This urgent situation continues to develop, and the community is closely watching for further actions from local authorities. As the winter months approach, the need for sustainable housing solutions remains critical.

Stay tuned for more updates as this story unfolds.