City responds to Fire incident near Shallow Creek Park

BRANTFORD, ON – At 9:00 a.m. on the morning of December 4, 2019, Brantford Police Services executed an illegal trespassing order issued by the owner of the private property adjacent to Shallow Creek Park. Individuals who were occupying the encampment over the last several months were provided ample warning that the order would be executed this morning.

Upon Police’s arrival, the site was willfully set on fire, allegedly by one of the occupants. Fire officials responded to the scene immediately and the fire was contained swiftly. The City can confirm that there were 12 individuals occupying the site at the time of the incident and that there are no reports of any related injuries at this time. An investigation regarding the cause of the fire is underway by Branford Fire Department officials.

The City of Brantford recognizes that homelessness is a complicated issue that demands a community response and to that end will diligently continue to work with community agencies, non-profit groups and our network of Emergency Shelter facilities to provide outreach services to those in need of support services and emergency shelter.

To ensure emergency shelter is available to those in need throughout the winter months, on Monday December 2, 2019 the City opened a Temporary Winter Emergency Shelter at 180 Greenwich Street that will be operational from 8:00 p.m. until 8:00 a.m. each evening from December 2, 2019 until April 30, 2020.

The Temporary Winter Emergency Shelter at 180 Greenwich St. will accept individuals who come directly to the shelter during operating hours. 

To learn more about emergency shelter services, please visit the City’s website at brantford.ca/EmergencyShelters

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Media Contact:
Maria Visocchi, Director |Communications and Community Engagement | City of Brantford | 519.759.4150 Ext. 5754 | mvisocchi@brantford.ca