The final two residents of the Cole Road rest stop on Highway 1 are packing their belongings as the province completes the process of clearing out the Abbotsford, B.C., RV camp. For several years, the site served as a makeshift community for dozens of people living in recreational vehicles, but the provincial government has now moved to permanently shut down the encampment.
Provincial contractors began erecting yellow fencing around the perimeter around noon on Tuesday, signaling the end of the site’s use as a shelter. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing confirmed the move via email, stating that all people sheltering at the location must vacate the premises.
The closure follows a period of dwindling occupancy and increasing safety concerns. The province indicated that the full cleanup and site clearance are expected to be finalized by the end of April. This action marks the conclusion of a multi-month effort to transition residents out of the rest stop and into more stable living arrangements.
The human cost of displacement
For those remaining at the site, the clearance is not merely a matter of zoning or safety, but a profound personal loss. Preston Mitchell, one of the final two residents, spent Tuesday loading a trailer in preparation for a move to Alberta. Mitchell, who lived at the rest stop for 10 months with his three chihuahuas, described a sense of exhaustion and physical toll.
“I’m feeling beat, stomped, and in a lot of pain,” Mitchell said. He expressed frustration over the lack of designated spaces for people who live in RVs, suggesting that the government could utilize available Crown land to provide temporary solutions for those with high-value mobile homes. Mitchell noted that his own trailer cost $100,000 when he first purchased it.
Safety concerns and police presence
The decision to clear the site was driven by deteriorating conditions. According to the Ministry of Housing, essential utilities—including power and washrooms—were shut down in November 2025. The government cited serious safety concerns and widespread vandalism as the catalysts for the utility cuts.
Abbotsford police were present on Tuesday in what Sgt. Paul Walker described as a “standby, peace-keeping capacity.” Even as officers in casual clothing were seen speaking with the remaining residents, the police department declined to conduct formal interviews. Sgt. Walker provided data indicating that while the camp existed for over three years, the volume of police files related to the site has decreased over time.
Police records show 17 files related to the encampment in 2024, dropping to five in 2025, and five more recorded so far this year.
Timeline of the encampment’s decline
The population of the Cole Road rest stop has fluctuated significantly over the last few years, peaking in April 2025 with 57 recorded residents. The process of clearing the site began in earnest this spring, following a series of outreach efforts and legal notices.
| Date | Estimated Residents | Vehicles/Status |
|---|---|---|
| March 2 | 30 | Initial count before notices |
| March 9 | N/A | Trespass notices issued |
| April 2 | 13 | 22 vehicles (9 abandoned) |
| April 7 | 2 | Final residents vacating |
The Ministry of Housing reported that outreach teams connected with 30 individuals at the site over the past month. Of those, 20 people were successfully transitioned into private rentals, supportive housing, shelters, or reconnected with family, and friends.
The province is now focusing on the removal of abandoned vehicles and the physical restoration of the rest stop. With the final residents departing, the site is expected to return to its original purpose as a transit stop for Highway 1 travelers by the end of the month.
The next confirmed step in the process is the final site inspection and removal of the temporary fencing, which the province expects to conclude by April 30.
We invite readers to share their thoughts on the balance between public safety and the require for flexible housing solutions in the comments below.
