08/29/2026
A mother is calling for a review of current of bylaw search and seizure practices in the capital city.
Sandra Thompson says her daughter Gem has been on and off the streets of Victoria for the past eight years. Through those years, her last earthly possessions have been repeatedly confiscated by bylaw and not given back.
“Their items are thrown out without transparency as to why,” said Thompson.
Thompson tries to help by bringing clothes, food and camping gear, but she can’t keep up with what she sees bylaw take.
“We’re replacing everything every single day,” said Gem. “They’re robbing us of everything we have.”
After the city made major investments into enforcing its daytime sheltering ban, Gem says bylaw sweeps on Pandora Avenue are near daily.
“They don’t even let me grab shoes or any of our essentials,” said Gem.
“They’ve dragged her out naked before,” said Gem’s husband Alex.
“There’s supposed to be a progressive enforcement model. First education, then a verbal warning to move along or they’ll come back in a couple hours, then the third step is supposed to be impounding of belongings. I am not witnessing that. That is not happening,” said Thompson.
When items are seized, bylaw says you can retrieve them.
“But you never do,” said Alex.
“It is often just tossed out,” said Thompson.
According to its bylaw that was updated in 2023, City of Victoria workers are allowed to immediately throw out ‘rubbish’, hazardous or bulky items.
In a recent civil judgement, a judge called the bylaw’s definition for rubbish “broad”.
In the bylaw, rubbish is defined as any item a city worker deems garbage for a wide variety of reasons including having no resale value.
According to Gem and Alex, watching the only things they have left head to the dump, daily, is emotionally defeating and divisive.
“They’ve taken my wedding ring, my friend’s ashes, my other friend’s daughter’s ashes. They just throw it all in the trash,” said Gem.
“I was sad at first when they were taking our things. But now I’m just furious. When I see them I’m furious. I can’t even look at them,” said Alex. “I think every other person down here feels the same way. They’ve just destroyed some of these people’s lives. With the little things they have left that bring them joy, whether it’s be a guitar or a book from their kids they don’t see anymore. Things like that. They throw them in the garbage.”
Gem’s mom says the unnecessary seizing of people’s beloved items, clothing, and essential survival gear, only compounds the suffering unhoused people are already facing.
“These are meaningful items to someone who is unhoused, and to have that taken away and treated like it means nothing? It is trauma and we’re perpetuating that,” said Thompson.
In a statement the city told CHEK News that all seized items are inventoried and photographed but says it doesn’t provide a list of items when people come to retrieve them, without providing a reason why.
“The Bylaw team will go over the return with folks if they would like,” said city spokesperson Colleen Mycroft in a statement. “If there is a dispute, folks can FOI the documentation and make a claim to get reimbursed.”
Gem, Alex and Thompson says the city should have a more accessible appeal process and fully transparent itemized list that’s provided to people upon retrieval.
“I think they’ll see better results,” said Thompson. “If this was somebody else who had lost their belongings, maybe in a different population, there’s the process. There would be accountability and their items would be returned. But in this situation here on the 900-block of Pandora and at Rock Bay landing, their items are thrown out without transparency as to why.”
