Dan Albas, Member of Parliament for the Central Okanagan —Similkameen —Nicola has called an emergency meeting with the Mayor of West Kelowna, Gordon Milsom after a man found dead in a homeless camp was identified as a veteran.
Albas says he works with veterans on a regular basis and will be working to find out as much information as possible about the situation to prevent the same fate happening to another veteran. However he says he will need to wait until West Kelowna RCMP and the BC Coroners Service
“I plan on reaching out to the West Kelowna Shelter Society for details and I also plan on meeting with local community leaders,” said Albas.
“I work with veterans who identify that there is a gap or perceived gap and I want to ensure that they get every benefit and support they deserve. It’s important.”
READ MORE: Body found in West Kelowna homeless camp
The West Kelowna man was found dead in what is believed to be a homeless camp was identified as a 50-years-old.
“I believe that these men and women (veterans) are heroes, they fought, lived and died for values Canadians hold dear, and I believe all my constituents would agree we need to treat them as such,” said Albas.
The West Kelowna Shelter Society has released a statement about the man that was found, who was a resident of the facility they operate.
“He fought to serve our country, and through a series of unfortunate events had recently fallen on hard times,” says a statement released by Carly Shipmaker of the West Kelowna Shelter Society.
Shipmaker called the death a, “tragic and heartbreaking time.” And she took the opportunity to address the stigma surrounding people experiencing homelessness.
READ MORE: Kelowna homelessness count shows more people without shelter
“These individuals are constantly being beaten down with ridicule and prejudice. The fact is that horrible things do not discriminate, they can happen to anybody at anytime,” Shipmaker said in the statement.
“The community within the shelter setting and people experiencing homelessness is one of the strongest bonds I have ever seen and have had the privilege of being a part of.”
READ MORE: West Kelowna homeless population is 61 % First Nation, according to survey
Temperatures have been as low as -12 C in recent days.
“At this time, criminality is not suspected in the man’s death as the investigation continues,” said RCMP Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey, spokesperson for the Kelowna Regional Detachment in a press release March 8.
The deceased’s name will not be released to protect his privacy. The RCMP and the BC Coroners Service have no further information as of yet.
READ MORE: West Kelowna homeless out in the cold after shelter runs at max capacity
In February in an interview with the Capital News, Shipmaker said the society’s shelter on Brown Road has been operating at capacity since it opened this winter and as needs rise, they aren’t able to keep up. They have had to turn people away.
The shelter has been operated in the Westbank United Church by the West Kelowna Shelter Society for the past four years.
They started with 30 beds but since Inn from the Cold’s closure, the shelter increased its capacity to 38. West Kelowna completed its first homeless count in July and found that there are 72 people experiencing homelessness at any given time in the city.
Albas will meet with Milsom on Wednesday, March 13.
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