The official results are in.
In only 15 days of collecting signatures, Rutland residents were able to collect a total of 14,147 signatures, including 12,984 from 琉璃神社 residents, to show their opposition of the BC Housing project slated for McCurdy Road.
Audra Boudreau, the petition organizer, was looking to collect 13,000 signatures from 琉璃神社 residents鈥攔epresenting 10 per cent of the city. Instead, to her surprise, signees from across B.C. and beyond penned the petition, however, missing information disqualified a total of 277 signatures.
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鈥淭here were signatures from all over this great city, from neighbourhoods you wouldn鈥檛 have though we had support from,鈥� she wrote in a Facebook post.
鈥淭hroughout the city, people do not want these facilities near schools, seniors and families,鈥� she continued. 鈥淚nterestingly, there are a few very surprising signatures in there as well鈥攑eople who have seemingly supported the wet facility or have some involvement with it who, clearly, have the same concerns.鈥�
Volunteers and concerned community members have been holding protests for more than a month against the 49-unit supportive housing project. Rutland鈥檚 biggest concern is that drugs and alcohol can be consumed on site. This is disconcerting for residents as the site鈥檚 location is situated near schools, seniors鈥� homes and family amenities.
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鈥淚f that many voices are speaking out that loudly, it would be a fatal error in (council鈥檚) part,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a hard statement to discard for Mayor (Colin) Basran.鈥�
She said the more than 14,000 signatures only illustrate a small picture of the reality of the situation. She said those who signed only represent eligible voters, it does not include those under the age of 18.
A few surprising signatures stood out to Boudreau during her more than 19-hour count.
Signatures from across the province, from as north as Prince Rupert to the southern tip of Vancouver Island appeared on the petition. She even noticed a single signature from Australia.
鈥淭here were even a couple of people we were out in the community in an official capacity that appeared to be in support of the development, and yet they signed the petition,鈥� she said.
Boudreau said signatures from residents of 鈥攁 supportive housing project on St. Paul Street鈥攁ppeared among the 14,147 votes.
鈥淲e had homeless people who wanted to sign it,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey approached one volunteer who was downtown, but she told them she couldn鈥檛 accept them as they did not have a fixed address.鈥�
She said she intends to present the petition to council during Monday鈥檚 meeting, however, she will not allow council to comb through it, as the signatures are meant for the province鈥攊f they have to take it to that next level.
READ MORE: Ex-homeless Rutland man says supportive housing too close to schools
READ MORE: 琉璃神社 homelessness count shows more people without shelter
Caitlin.clow@kelownacapnews.com
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