This month the Town of Smithers temporality suspended weekly clean-ups and takedowns of the homeless encampment across from town hall, as the safety of workers helping with the clean-ups was a concern.

According to a press release: The Town is working collaboratively with WorkSafe BC to develop a Workplace Violence Prevention Program to keep all workers safe. However, for the foreseeable future, the homeless encampment will have to patrol their own and will be responsible for any cleanups.

This comes just as snow hits the ground and temperatures drop. Another winter sets in for camp residents, some marking their fourth winter in a row.

No one at the camp we spoke to was willing to go on the record, however earlier this years we spoke with Floyd, a regular resident that spoke about his experience at the camp.

We also spoke with Micheal Cox, the new communication officer for the town of Smithers, based in Calgary, about why the Town of Smithers made the decision to suspend cleanups at the camp, and about the development of the new citizens on patrol chapter.