The local homeless population gathering around Bridge Street United Church is being accused of trespassing at St. Thomas Anglican Church across the street, and leaving behind everything from human feces to used needles.
Appearing on CJBQ’s Lorne Brooker show Wednesday, St. Thomas Parish priest Brad Beale said that the city staff haven’t been communicating with them about the issue, even when the church has reached out.
“I haven’t even received so much as the courtesy of an acknowledgement response to an email. Not from some of the councillors and the mayor. The mayor, to his credit, picked up the phone, gave a call,” said Beale. “Garnet Thompson, Kelly McCaw, Sean Kelly, have reached out, connected with us and all that. City staff haven’t, and I think that’s a problem.”
The city sent in a notice to clean up the property or face fines for by-law violations, as the litter had accumulated despite the church’s efforts to keep it clean. The St. Thomas Anglican Church wardens claim the city needs to be doing more to prevent the illegal dumping of people’s trash on church property.
