91Ƶ

Skip to content

UPDATED: Temporary 91Ƶslums91Ƶ discussed in West Kelowna

The temporary agricultural dwellings bylaw amendment will be heard by council once more
12513519_web1_180625-KCN-West-Kelowna-Council
Contributed

Residents of the Schaffe Road area in West Kelowna are concerned about the safety and sanitation of their neighbourhood due to what they call temporary agricultural 91Ƶslums.91Ƶ

Colin Crabbe spoke during a public hearing on the issue this week and reminded city councillors it was just a year ago when a seemingly high woman living on one of those properties pushed her way into his home on Scharf Road, while only his wife and children were there. He pointed out that 91Ƶsomething needs to be done91Ƶ about the conditions the temporary workers have been living in.

91ƵPeople who use these facilities are the most vulnerable to exploitation of farm owners,91Ƶ he said.

He also claimed property damage and crime has skyrocketed in the area and there is a need for oversight and enforcement.

READ ALSO: BETTER HOUSING NEEDED

91ƵThese temporary agricultural 91Ƶslums91Ƶ have been a source of regular seasonal crime and I believe that without revising the bylaw they will continue to put the community at risk,91Ƶ Crabbe said.

Sheila Kennedy, another resident of Scharf Road, is also tired of dealing with the problems related to temporary farm-worker housing.

She wrote a letter describing the 91Ƶdeplorable91Ƶ conditions that at least one property owner subjects his temporary workers to.

READ ALSO: LARGE FARM WORKER HOUSING PLAN SET IN KELOWNA

Kennedy lives directly across from the fourplex that Sarwan Gidda, of TBA Farms uses to house temporary workers.

Kennedy has said there were several instances since dating back to 1994 when people arrived at her door in an alarming condition, and she believes they were from Gidda91Ƶs property.

In one case her sister-in-law had a blood-covered man knock one night after being stabbed. In another, she had a French man knock and ask to use a proper shower after only being able to use a garden hose in the accommodation he was provided.

91ƵThere91Ƶs a dilapidated trailer on that property91Ƶin the spring we will have all these tenters, it91Ƶs all the drinkers and the partiers, and there is nothing done about it,91Ƶ Kennedy said.

READ ALSO: SQUALID CONDITIONS

91ƵWhat kind of impression are we giving these foreign workers of Canada when they go home with conditions like this?91Ƶ Kennedy said.

Gidda says that the photos are of a different farm, and that he is not in violation of any bylaws.

91ƵThose pictures are false, maybe 10, 15 years ago that is what we had to do. If you look there now there is no one camping, everyone has accommodation,91Ƶ Gidda said.

Gidda only has tenters on his property during cherry picking season for 10 days at a time due to the short picking time.

Gidda said that he believes he91Ƶs being blamed for the issue due to racism.

READ ALSO:

Crabbe isn91Ƶt worried about pointing fingers.

He wants to improve the living standard for the temporary foreign workers and therefore the rest of the neighbourhood.

Council has been working to to find resolutions that create additional regulations regarding the use and quantity of RVs and tents for temporary workers investigating other possible zoning bylaw amendments that will require proper washrooms and bathing facilities for agricultural workers, including those staying in tents.

Council will hear the bylaw amendment once more before deciding on whether or not to adopt the changes.

To report a typo, email:
newstips@kelownacapnews.com
.



sydney.morton@kelownacapnews.com

Like us on and follow us on .





(or

91Ƶ

) document.head.appendChild(flippScript); window.flippxp = window.flippxp || {run: []}; window.flippxp.run.push(function() { window.flippxp.registerSlot("#flipp-ux-slot-ssdaw212", "Black Press Media Standard", 1281409, [312035]); }); }