MLA shed lights on homeless situation

The M-L-A for Kootenay-Monashee says a chance encounter has shed some light on the province’s homeless situation.

Steve Morrissette says he wasn’t expecting the meeting shortly after sunrise in Victoria.

“I was going for an early morning walk because we do a lot of sitting all day so I was walking through Beacon Hill Park and I saw this gentleman at the back of his van and he waved so I waved back and said hi, pretty soon we were having a conversation” explained Morrissette.

“We just talked really about the different birds and different animals in the park and how beautiful it was, just had a great conversation,” he added, describing it as a casual chat with someone living off the grid.

“He appeared to be unhoused and living out of his van, he was willing to give me a coffee out of the back of his van and really just a nice and kind person,” explained the M-L-A.

“He was just down on his luck, he told me he didn’t drink or use drugs, he just was there, just living life,” Morrissette added, stating that his situation proves this can happen to anyone.

“They’re (the homeless) people like you and me that have had some struggles, maybe financially, maybe lost a job,  who knows what brought them there,” surmised the new member of the legislature for former Mayor of Fruitvale.


Be the first to know! Don’t miss out on breaking news and daily updates in your area. Sign up to MyKootenayNowNews Alerts.

Drew Wilson
Drew Wilson
Drew brings more than four decades of experience to the Kootenay newsroom. His career has taken him across Ontario, the Northwest Territories and B.C. Drew combines his love of radio and community with his passion for sports.

Continue Reading

cjat Now playing play

ckqr Now playing play

- Advertisement -

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

This year’s West Kootenay-Boundary Move to Cure ALS Walk raises over $20k

West Kootenay-Boundary Move to Cure ALS is walking the talk, all the way to $20,176.

Does the Kootenay-Boundary Regional Hospital need a second access?

The West Kootenay-Boundary Regional Hospital District Board has raised the long-standing issue of the need for a second access to Kootenay-Boundary Regional Hospital in Trail.

Pape signs with Smoke Eaters

The Trail Smoke Eaters have signed another German defenseman.

Wildfires ignite in West Kootenay

A series of small wildfires have sprouted up throughout the West Kootenay and Creston Valley.

Charges laid in Beaver Valley arena incident

A charge has been laid in the Beaver Valley Arena incident in late March that resulted in serious injuries to a 47-year-old Fruitvale man.
- Advertisement -