At 5:11 a.m. today, Halifax Regional Police released a statement saying that Meagher Park, also known as "People's Park," was physically secured by Halifax Regional Municipality staff for upcoming remediation work.

"This morning, Meagher Park was physically secured by Halifax Regional Municipality staff for upcoming remediation work. Halifax Regional Police officers were on hand for support and assistance," the statement reads. "Following deteriorating health and safety conditions at the park, a notice to vacate the park was issued on July 5, 2022 with a July 17 deadline for voluntary vacation of the park."

“Following that deadline, efforts continued with occupants to offer alternative options, which were accepted," the statement continues. "Following confirmation that the park no longer had residents staying in it, additional time was provided to ensure that those housing options were being utilized..."

After those steps, and with the "commitment to exercise a measured approach," Meagher Park was secured with fencing this morning.

On CKDU NewsWrap, Operations Director Nathan Wisnicki and reporter Sara Gouda interview Vicky Levack, human rights advocate and volunteer who said the number of residents staying at the park fluctuates often.

The police-led encampment evictions last August resulted in unhoused people taking up residence at the People’s Park on Chebucto Road.

"Last year, [in] October, we had 30 residents at the height and over the last week it's been about five people," Levack said.

Vicky Levack has been a human rights advocate for about a decade and has been a volunteer in Meagher Park for over a year. Photo by Sara Gouda.

Levack said the police would often visit the park because it was located in a public area instead of other homeless encampments.

"The park showed publicly in the main part of a residential area where people weren't doing really well and as these houses were failing, as a city to protect, it was vulnerable. The park was a visceral, blatant reminder of that. But rather than help people, they just wanted it to go away."

Levack said some choices offered by the province such as the Barrington Green space are not safe options.

"The one by the shipyard, Barrington Green Space has a 20-foot drop into the parking lot of the shipyard."

She said this is not a safe option for many unhoused folks with disabilities or substance use issues.

A map of the proposed tent sites for multi-night sheltering in HRM parks. Photo from Halifax Parks & Recreation website.

On Twitter, United Way Halifax posted a list with more suitable alternatives, saying they "believe in a community where everyone feels like they belong, feels safe," and that they strongly believe in finding alternatives to forcibly clearing Meagher Park.

The issue with many of the locations is they only offer temporary housing for 10 days, Levack says calls it a "band-aid solution."

"We are a G7 country and yet, there are people in this country sleeping in tents with their children."

Levack said people did not leave voluntarily, but left because they were afraid of police violence.

"They said 'we will not hesitate to call our friends in from Cape Breton Regional Municipality and the RCMP, as well as ATP."

This summer, councillors designated four municipal park sites where unhoused people could set up tents.

Levack is a human rights advocate of 10 years, and is currently working on a podcast that addresses disability concerns and human rights issues.

In an interview with CKDU NewsWrap, Levack said she is currently working on a podcast that addresses disability concerns and human rights issues. Photo by Nathan Wisnicki.

Listen to the full interview below: