Park Could Host Homeless Memorial

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Tuesday, 10 June 2014 06:00
A idea for a memorial to Vernon's homeless victims in Polson Park has been pitched to city council. Chuck Harper from the John Howard Society is asking the city for a small site by the gazebo for a rock monument. He says 14 homeless residents died in the city last year. "We need something that honours the lives of our street friends, our family members. People who are either dealing with mental illness, addiction, suicide, murder," Harper told city council. Harper says there would be no cost to the city as the society will pick up the maintenance costs, and the memorial rock has been donated. City council will discuss the request at its June 23 meeting, but both Mayor Rob Sawatzky and councillor Juliette Cunningham expressed support for the idea at council's meeting Monday. "This will be a hard one for us not to do," said Sawatzky. Harper said he would also consider making it a tribute to 'Greater Vernon's' homeless victims to reflect the area, when asked about that by councillor Bob Spiers. Harper says he was motivated by a homless memorial in Santa Clara, California, and adds there's also tributes in Edmonton and London, Ontario.