Central Saaanich Police have arrested members of a homeless encampment after they showed up at Woodwyn farms overnight.
The campers had been evicted fromn Oak Bay's Cattle Point, and briefly went to Songhees Park in Vic West, before moving to the shuttered Woodwyn Farms property at 7789 West Saanich Road. The land is now owned and managed by the Provincial Rental Housing Corporation.
About 10pm Friday a group of 10 campers led by organizer Chrissy Brett removed the gates to gain access to the agricultural property. According to police the group drove vehicles onto the property and began setting up an encampment.
Officers responded and met with the organizer and several members of the group who identified themselves as the Namegans Nation or Camp Namegans.
Police also spoke with representatives from BC Housing who instructed the police to remove the individuals, but repeated attempts to have the group leave voluntarily were unsuccessful.
Saturday morning police spoke with leader Chrissy Brett and gave the group another chance to leave voluntarily, but they decided to barricade the property entrance.
At 3pm Central Saanich Police, aided by Greater Victoria's Crowd Management Unit and the RCMP, moved in and arrested 10 people for the criminal offense of Mischief.
Brett posted a video of herself challenging the officers on her Facebook site .
The individuals are being released on conditions -- including not to return to the property.