Ashlie Gough, 23, of Victoria was found dead in her tent at 4:40 p.m. Saturday. A cause of death has not been identified, though protesters said it was a drug overdose.
In a news conference at Vancouver City Hall on Sunday, city manager Penny Ballem said staff have become increasingly concerned about “life safety hazards” due to the dozens of tents that litter the art gallery lawn.
“We have to find a peaceful resolution to end the encampment on this site, and to find a way to allow Occupy Vancouver to continue to protest peacefully, without putting people at risk,” she said.
Fire hazards such as tarps, closely-positioned tents and piles of personal belongings as well as evidence of propane and other flammables are among the city’s concerns, Mayor Gregor Robertson said.
“The Occupy Vancouver protest can continue. The tent encampment, as it stands now, cannot,” he said.
On Saturday night, Robertson said there is no set timeline in dismantling the encampment, but something needs to be done.
“This is the second critical incident in the last two days,” Robertson said over catcalls from occupiers, in reference to a man who overdosed on heroin on Thursday.
The young woman was identified today by the BC Coroner service as 23-year-old Ashlie Gough of Victoria.
Gough arrived in Vancouver late last week, said coroner Owen Court. Her next of kin have been notified.
At around 10:30 a.m., a few visibly emotional visitors paid their respects at the vigil—a small cross, surrounded by lit candles. A Vancouver police officer prevented media from questioning the grieving visitors, one of whom the officer identified as Gough’s stepfather.
A few of the occupiers heckled Anton, the NPA mayoral candidate, who spent roughly 15 minutes at the site.
The NPA candidate said she came down to offer condolences to those who knew the young lady.
City officials have been circulating a notice since Friday, informing occupiers that the camp is in violation of a city bylaw.
Though the bylaw has been in effect throughout the occupation, the city has been resistant to enforce it.
Mayor Robertson said earlier this weekend that in light of the death on Saturday, and another medical emergency that took place last week, that the camp has to come down, but he hasn’t set a time frame or plan of action.
“The tents need to come down,” Anton told reporters at the site, repeating her concerns about camp sanitation and safety. “I think people are asking, what more does it take? Now, Gregor [Robertson] is now talking about an injunction, I’m a lawyer, an injunction is good, but he still hasn’t said what he’d do following an injunction.”
An announcement about the continued occupation by city manager Penny Ballem is expected later today.
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