Homeless memorial moved

Vernon’s homeless memorial plaque officially has a new home.

The plaque, which honours the unhoused who’ve lost their lives, previously sat near the Vernon Creek running through Polson Park. The city’s creek naturalization project meant the plaque had to find a new home, which organizer Rev. Chuck Harper says it now has.

“Last week they placed the new memorial at the new location by the bandshell. The city, parks and the staff have been exceptional. I am so very thankful,” said Harper.

Each year, Harper organizes a service to memorialize the homeless and marginalized people that die in Vernon on an annual basis.

“Many of our homeless men and women don't know how to grieve and they keep losing people, their friends. And this is a way to honour them, and honour many of our homeless people who are nameless and faceless,” said Harper at the 2023 service.

“And this way, it's a place that we can remember them. Remember a life that was lived, even in brokenness.”

This year’s service will be held on Oct. 17 at 2 p.m. at the memorial’s new location, by the bandshell in Polson Park.