Anyone who has recently gone through the intersection of Helmcken Road and Old Island Highway in View Royal has likely seen the signs.
From Feb. 18 to March 29, 40 Days for Life is holding a vigil at that corner in protest of the Vancouver Island WomenB次元官网网址檚 Clinic B次元官网网址� and some of the neighbours arenB次元官网网址檛 impressed.
According to Steve Weatherbe of Choose Life Victoria, the group has arrived on occasion to find horse manure dumped where they plan to set up, people have left huge piles of food scraps, and the group is constantly verbally abused. One nearby resident, Weatherbe claims, B次元官网网址渆xposed herself to our group through her window and then came outside with a noose around her neck yelling about killing herself.B次元官网网址�
Neighbours have complained to the Town of View Royal about the groupB次元官网网址檚 presence at the corner, he says, and the town has responded by asking the group to rotate from location to location at the intersection so as not to continually be in front of one particular property.
View Royal Mayor David Screech confirms this to be the case.
B次元官网网址淪ure, there have been isolated cases of complaints,B次元官网网址� he says, B次元官网网址渂ut I donB次元官网网址檛 know of any coming from anyone that lives outside that directly affected corner, really. ItB次元官网网址檚 certainly not a case of widespread outrage or anything.B次元官网网址�
Screech says the city has been working with the group to make sure they are respecting everyoneB次元官网网址檚 rights.
B次元官网网址淚 think theyB次元官网网址檝e worked extremely well with our staff and the RCMP to ensure that theyB次元官网网址檙e not being overly disruptive over the last few vigils theyB次元官网网址檝e held. WeB次元官网网址檝e developed a really good relationship and our communication has been very open, I would say.B次元官网网址�
According to Weatherbe, the main issue is that people just donB次元官网网址檛 understand that what the group is doing is perfectly legal, instead assuming that theyB次元官网网址檝e got to be breaking some kind of law.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e within our rights, here,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淵ou can use public sidewalks for displays of opinion, itB次元官网网址檚 built into the Charter (of Rights and Freedoms) that as long as youB次元官网网址檙e not obstructing traffic or getting in the way of pedestrians, you can peacefully share your views on things.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲here we are is annoying, maybe, but itB次元官网网址檚 legal,B次元官网网址� he says, B次元官网网址渁nd itB次元官网网址檚 where we feel we need to be in order to try and get our message across.B次元官网网址� He adds that the people going into the clinic are only getting half the message because they arenB次元官网网址檛 being told the risks associated with abortion, and thatB次元官网网址檚 what their vigils are meant to accomplish.
The police seem to agree with WeatherbeB次元官网网址檚 claim that theyB次元官网网址檙e doing nothing wrong from a legal standpoint.
Const. Alex Berube of the West Shore RCMP says they have stepped up patrols in the area, mainly because the situation is one which might become volatile for the community. However, no incidents have been documented, no arrests have been made and no citations issued.
B次元官网网址淲e are providing the same protective service for this case as we would for any other similar situation,B次元官网网址� he says.
B次元官网网址淲e work within the existing legal framework that balances public safety with individualsB次元官网网址� rights,B次元官网网址� adding that they are in constant communication with the Town of View Royal, Island Health and the organizers of the protest,B次元官网网址� to ensure they have as much information as they can at all times.
Last week when the Gazette stopped by the corner to have a look at the situation, one pro-choice supporter had taken up her post near the 40 Days for Life vigil. She told a reporter she also wanted to exercise her right to share her views, but felt sheB次元官网网址檚 not being afforded the same respect the group is asking for, and that they definitely make her feel unwelcome at the location.
