This is the write-up the Provincial Capital Commission is submitting as evidence. Ill write it in whole and maybe comment a bit on the bottom.
Here we go-
DAVID ARTHUR JOHNSTON
(Homeless Person)
at
ST. ANNS ACADEMY
David Arthur Johnston has been sleeping at St. Anns Academy most nights since January 16, 2004. Various tactics, including arrest, have not encouraged him to move away from St. Anns Academy. His presence on the grounds is a safety concern to Ministry of Advanced Education employees, is an ongoing cost to the PCC for cleaning-up the daily mess he makes on the grounds by hauling-in sleeping material and by strewing the contents of garbage containers, was a cost to the PCC for additional security efforts to remove him in the past, and is a violation of PCC By-Law#4, which prohibits camping on the grounds at night.
On January 16, 2004, a group of homeless people set-up a tent city in the Arboretum area at St. Anns Academy. Everyone but Johnston left the property the following day after their tents and belongings were removed by the police and BCBC/PCC staff.
Johnstons initial residency was in the Arboretum, but as attempts were made to discourage his overnight stays, he moved closer to the building migrating from the Arboretum to the front steps of the Ministry entrance to the building, then to the front steps of the Chapel, and lastly to the Summerhouse in the Novitiate Garden. If events disturb his settling-in for the night in one location, his pattern has been to relocate to another location on the property.
Various efforts have been attempted to discourage his stays. Additional security was hired through Victoria Central Security to augment the Ministry on-site security provided by Royal Victoria Security. Upon legal advice from the PCC solicitors, the security guards were directed to ask him to leave, to call the police for his removal, and to keep him awake through various means in the hopes of him finding the location not suitable for sleeping. The security guards gradually became more frustrated than Johnston by this process and it gradually fizzled away as a viable option for the PCC to pursue at this time.
Over the course of nine months, Johnston has been arrested and removed by police on at least 21 occasions.
Presently, Johnston brings enough materials onto the property that it takes PCC staff about one hour each day to cleanup-and remove the debris, which includes newspapers, shredded paper, cardboard, leaves and other materials he uses for a mattress, bedding and insulation. He occasionally brings furniture such as tables, chairs, mattresses and other large items, to aid his occupancy and comfort. Starting in late October 2004, Johnston has also begun emptying garbage cans onto the lawns as he exits the property in the morning, which adding to the clean-up effort by PCC staff. Neighbours have observed Johnston urinating and defecating in the garden.
He tries to engage Ministry and PCC staff and visitors in conversations, if he meets people while he is on site. This has caused some Ministry staff to be concerned for their safety especially women who arrive for work early in the morning when no one else is around.
Johnston keeps a website {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.anglefire.com/apes/hatrackman/welcome.htm"}}{\fldrslt http://www.anglefire.com/apes/hatrackman/welcome.htm}} with a journal he calls The Journal of the Occupation of St. Anns Academy. Additionally, he emails daily with updates for the journal and other inspirations of his personal philosophy to approximately 20 people, including the Victoria Police Chief, the former Mayor of Vancouver, and the May of Victorias assistant.
A detailed chronology of events is attached as Appendix #1.
David Arthur Johnston in known to the street community. He is thought to have enemies within that community. Those working with marginalized groups, such as Reverend Al of the Open Door, are familiar with him but are not able to reach him. He appears to be prepared to die for his beliefs and enjoys a soapbox when he can find one. While he generally has a calm disposition, he can become agitated when the environment changes. He can provoke people and he can be provoked. He wants permission to sleep in the open to be closer to God. He does not believe in the use of money. He believes that his patience will win. He would also like his day in court to argue his points-of-view.
Johnstons most recent entries in his daily internet journal he keeps are at:
http://www.victoria.indymedia.org/news/2004/11/33626.php
http://victoria.indymedia.org/news/2004/11/33629.php
http://www.victoria.indymedia.org/news/2004/11/33774.php
Information Updated: 8th November 2004
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yup that be it they make it very easy ok, just a couple things- not once did I poo there and there are approximately 20 people on that particular part of the update list- that are about 6 groups with anywhere between 30 to 50 people on them. If the detailed chronology is what they gave me its mostly just some photocopies of some of the journal updates with words like tent-city and everything is God so pride is a sin pointed to and underlined.
Enemies? I have enemies? There may be one or two lazy stubborn children out there that resent me for pointing out their laziness, ya, though I wouldnt call them enemies, I would call them me.
I dont want permission to sleep outside- Im saying Im going to sleep outside. Kill me if you will. My patience has always been in a state of winning--- Knowing that one thing has no beginning means that nothing does.
Cheers and love.
Ill update again around the 8th.
Patience,
David Arthur Johnston
