An Enderby man who spent five years as a campsite host says he has left the job because of an alarming increase in abusive and threatening behavior from campers. Rene Potier says he once had a crossbow pointed at him in a case that is still in court. Pothier reacted to the recent story of the campers at Evely Recreation Area whose RV was destroyed by arson – and said it was “inevitable that something like this would happen.” Pothier and his wife served as camp hosts at several BC Parks and Trails and BC Recreation sites across the province, and he says he didn’t go back to work “because I knew something was going to happen.” The Evely site on the Westside of Okanagan Lake was among those he worked on. “It was no surprise to me,” he said of the arson, which remains under police investigation. Pothier pointed the crossbow at him at Tamihi Creek Recreation Area near Chilliwack. He says the behavior of a small minority of campers has continued to worsen in recent years. Usually, they’ll be rowdy or party late into the night, but when the camp hosts try to put a lid on things, there’s “no support” to back them up and things often escalate. “They want us to somehow educate these campers, but there’s no support, no protection… They know we have no authority to support it.” In one incident, an adult male tried to fight a juvenile before the police were called. But even the police have no authority to remove people from the campsite without written orders from the camp supervisor, who is usually a contractor not near the campsite. In several other incidents, Pothier and his wife locked themselves in their RV to avoid violent confrontations. “When people are allowed to act in a certain way without consequences, it normalizes that behavior,” he says. Pothier would like to see landlords given the power to issue eviction notices that the police could enforce on the spot. With no rules about camping, he says hosts “are almost expected to take it and just let people blow up because they’re on vacation.” He says there are often several layers of contractors before the hosts on the ground and “no one is taking responsibility”. He’s raised the issue in the past and says he’s “taking a break” from hosting because it’s no longer “worth it.” He says his wife once had a medical bag similar to a colostomy bag thrown at her … “with liquid in it.” “Contractors submit it and don’t see what’s going on,” he says. Pothier says he felt “absolutely” unsafe, but offenders “think it’s a big joke when they give the hosts a hard time”. Situations often start with such simple incidents as being late to check out, but after repeated warnings to vacate the site because new campers may be arriving, the responses sometimes turn threatening. In one incident at Morton Lake Provincial Park on Vancouver Island, “something changed and the camper became verbally abusive.” He says a large park can have up to 1,000 people coming in and out over a weekend, and the rate of troublemakers is still low, “but every weekend, someone gets ridiculous.” In a statement, the Ministry of the Environment, which oversees BC Parks and Trails and Rec BC, said: “Everyone has the right to expect a safe, welcoming and respectful experience whether in recreation areas or country parks. “The incidents … are concerning and no one should be confronted in our parks or recreation areas. Anyone facing such threats should immediately contact the RCMP or the Conservation Officer Service for further action.” The ministry says it has “zero tolerance” for such incidents and failure to comply with regulations can result in fines, cancellation of camping permits or detention and/or eviction from the recreation area or park. BC’s Campers Code and Recreation Sites and Trails’ Know the Rules page has more information about responsible camping.

title: “Former Campground Host Says He Resigned Due To Increase In Abusive Threatening Behavior From Campers Vernon News Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-29” author: “Rachel Eledge”

An Enderby man who spent five years as a campsite host says he has left the job because of an alarming increase in abusive and threatening behavior from campers. Rene Potier says he once had a crossbow pointed at him in a case that is still in court. Pothier reacted to the recent story of the campers at Evely Recreation Area whose RV was destroyed by arson – and said it was “inevitable that something like this would happen.” Pothier and his wife served as camp hosts at several BC Parks and Trails and BC Recreation sites across the province, and he says he didn’t go back to work “because I knew something was going to happen.” The Evely site on the Westside of Okanagan Lake was among those he worked on. “It was no surprise to me,” he said of the arson, which remains under police investigation. Pothier pointed the crossbow at him at Tamihi Creek Recreation Area near Chilliwack. He says the behavior of a small minority of campers has continued to worsen in recent years. Usually, they’ll be rowdy or party late into the night, but when the camp hosts try to put a lid on things, there’s “no support” to back them up and things often escalate. “They want us to somehow educate these campers, but there’s no support, no protection… They know we have no authority to support it.” In one incident, an adult male tried to fight a juvenile before the police were called. But even the police have no authority to remove people from the campsite without written orders from the camp supervisor, who is usually a contractor not near the campsite. In several other incidents, Pothier and his wife locked themselves in their RV to avoid violent confrontations. “When people are allowed to act in a certain way without consequences, it normalizes that behavior,” he says. Pothier would like to see landlords given the power to issue eviction notices that the police could enforce on the spot. With no rules about camping, he says hosts “are almost expected to take it and just let people blow up because they’re on vacation.” He says there are often several layers of contractors before the hosts on the ground and “no one is taking responsibility”. He’s raised the issue in the past and says he’s “taking a break” from hosting because it’s no longer “worth it.” He says his wife once had a medical bag similar to a colostomy bag thrown at her … “with liquid in it.” “Contractors submit it and don’t see what’s going on,” he says. Pothier says he felt “absolutely” unsafe, but offenders “think it’s a big joke when they give the hosts a hard time”. Situations often start with such simple incidents as being late to check out, but after repeated warnings to vacate the site because new campers may be arriving, the responses sometimes turn threatening. In one incident at Morton Lake Provincial Park on Vancouver Island, “something changed and the camper became verbally abusive.” He says a large park can have up to 1,000 people coming in and out over a weekend, and the rate of troublemakers is still low, “but every weekend, someone gets ridiculous.” In a statement, the Ministry of the Environment, which oversees BC Parks and Trails and Rec BC, said: “Everyone has the right to expect a safe, welcoming and respectful experience whether in recreation areas or country parks. “The incidents … are concerning and no one should be confronted in our parks or recreation areas. Anyone facing such threats should immediately contact the RCMP or the Conservation Officer Service for further action.” The ministry says it has “zero tolerance” for such incidents and failure to comply with regulations can result in fines, cancellation of camping permits or detention and/or eviction from the recreation area or park. BC’s Campers Code and Recreation Sites and Trails’ Know the Rules page has more information about responsible camping.

title: “Former Campground Host Says He Resigned Due To Increase In Abusive Threatening Behavior From Campers Vernon News Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-28” author: “Christine Bartlett”

An Enderby man who spent five years as a campsite host says he has left the job because of an alarming increase in abusive and threatening behavior from campers. Rene Potier says he once had a crossbow pointed at him in a case that is still in court. Pothier reacted to the recent story of the campers at Evely Recreation Area whose RV was destroyed by arson – and said it was “inevitable that something like this would happen.” Pothier and his wife served as camp hosts at several BC Parks and Trails and BC Recreation sites across the province, and he says he didn’t go back to work “because I knew something was going to happen.” The Evely site on the Westside of Okanagan Lake was among those he worked on. “It was no surprise to me,” he said of the arson, which remains under police investigation. Pothier pointed the crossbow at him at Tamihi Creek Recreation Area near Chilliwack. He says the behavior of a small minority of campers has continued to worsen in recent years. Usually, they’ll be rowdy or party late into the night, but when the camp hosts try to put a lid on things, there’s “no support” to back them up and things often escalate. “They want us to somehow educate these campers, but there’s no support, no protection… They know we have no authority to support it.” In one incident, an adult male tried to fight a juvenile before the police were called. But even the police have no authority to remove people from the campsite without written orders from the camp supervisor, who is usually a contractor not near the campsite. In several other incidents, Pothier and his wife locked themselves in their RV to avoid violent confrontations. “When people are allowed to act in a certain way without consequences, it normalizes that behavior,” he says. Pothier would like to see landlords given the power to issue eviction notices that the police could enforce on the spot. With no rules about camping, he says hosts “are almost expected to take it and just let people blow up because they’re on vacation.” He says there are often several layers of contractors before the hosts on the ground and “no one is taking responsibility”. He’s raised the issue in the past and says he’s “taking a break” from hosting because it’s no longer “worth it.” He says his wife once had a medical bag similar to a colostomy bag thrown at her … “with liquid in it.” “Contractors submit it and don’t see what’s going on,” he says. Pothier says he felt “absolutely” unsafe, but offenders “think it’s a big joke when they give the hosts a hard time”. Situations often start with such simple incidents as being late to check out, but after repeated warnings to vacate the site because new campers may be arriving, the responses sometimes turn threatening. In one incident at Morton Lake Provincial Park on Vancouver Island, “something changed and the camper became verbally abusive.” He says a large park can have up to 1,000 people coming in and out over a weekend, and the rate of troublemakers is still low, “but every weekend, someone gets ridiculous.” In a statement, the Ministry of the Environment, which oversees BC Parks and Trails and Rec BC, said: “Everyone has the right to expect a safe, welcoming and respectful experience whether in recreation areas or country parks. “The incidents … are concerning and no one should be confronted in our parks or recreation areas. Anyone facing such threats should immediately contact the RCMP or the Conservation Officer Service for further action.” The ministry says it has “zero tolerance” for such incidents and failure to comply with regulations can result in fines, cancellation of camping permits or detention and/or eviction from the recreation area or park. BC’s Campers Code and Recreation Sites and Trails’ Know the Rules page has more information about responsible camping.

title: “Former Campground Host Says He Resigned Due To Increase In Abusive Threatening Behavior From Campers Vernon News Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-08” author: “Nettie Rosa”

An Enderby man who spent five years as a campsite host says he has left the job because of an alarming increase in abusive and threatening behavior from campers. Rene Potier says he once had a crossbow pointed at him in a case that is still in court. Pothier reacted to the recent story of the campers at Evely Recreation Area whose RV was destroyed by arson – and said it was “inevitable that something like this would happen.” Pothier and his wife served as camp hosts at several BC Parks and Trails and BC Recreation sites across the province, and he says he didn’t go back to work “because I knew something was going to happen.” The Evely site on the Westside of Okanagan Lake was among those he worked on. “It was no surprise to me,” he said of the arson, which remains under police investigation. Pothier pointed the crossbow at him at Tamihi Creek Recreation Area near Chilliwack. He says the behavior of a small minority of campers has continued to worsen in recent years. Usually, they’ll be rowdy or party late into the night, but when the camp hosts try to put a lid on things, there’s “no support” to back them up and things often escalate. “They want us to somehow educate these campers, but there’s no support, no protection… They know we have no authority to support it.” In one incident, an adult male tried to fight a juvenile before the police were called. But even the police have no authority to remove people from the campsite without written orders from the camp supervisor, who is usually a contractor not near the campsite. In several other incidents, Pothier and his wife locked themselves in their RV to avoid violent confrontations. “When people are allowed to act in a certain way without consequences, it normalizes that behavior,” he says. Pothier would like to see landlords given the power to issue eviction notices that the police could enforce on the spot. With no rules about camping, he says hosts “are almost expected to take it and just let people blow up because they’re on vacation.” He says there are often several layers of contractors before the hosts on the ground and “no one is taking responsibility”. He’s raised the issue in the past and says he’s “taking a break” from hosting because it’s no longer “worth it.” He says his wife once had a medical bag similar to a colostomy bag thrown at her … “with liquid in it.” “Contractors submit it and don’t see what’s going on,” he says. Pothier says he felt “absolutely” unsafe, but offenders “think it’s a big joke when they give the hosts a hard time”. Situations often start with such simple incidents as being late to check out, but after repeated warnings to vacate the site because new campers may be arriving, the responses sometimes turn threatening. In one incident at Morton Lake Provincial Park on Vancouver Island, “something changed and the camper became verbally abusive.” He says a large park can have up to 1,000 people coming in and out over a weekend, and the rate of troublemakers is still low, “but every weekend, someone gets ridiculous.” In a statement, the Ministry of the Environment, which oversees BC Parks and Trails and Rec BC, said: “Everyone has the right to expect a safe, welcoming and respectful experience whether in recreation areas or country parks. “The incidents … are concerning and no one should be confronted in our parks or recreation areas. Anyone facing such threats should immediately contact the RCMP or the Conservation Officer Service for further action.” The ministry says it has “zero tolerance” for such incidents and failure to comply with regulations can result in fines, cancellation of camping permits or detention and/or eviction from the recreation area or park. BC’s Campers Code and Recreation Sites and Trails’ Know the Rules page has more information about responsible camping.