More than 30 people gathered in downtown Penticton on March 31 to rally against potential plans to remove a statue, tree and benches from Nanaimo Square. 

The rally was sparked following a staff report that was published in March 28's agenda for the April 1 council meeting, and the report was no prank. 

The recommendation from city staff to remove the large spruce tree, raised planter, salmon statue and several metal benches is based on a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design assessment that was completed in 2024 by the RCMP and bylaw. 

The assessment was undertaken following several years of high calls to both bylaw officers and the RCMP, 

Those gathered in Nanaimo Park carried signs calling to keep the park the way it is and calling on the city to have more empathy for unhoused individuals that the proposed changes will impact. 

A Change.org petition to preserve the square had amassed 252 signatures by the March 31 rally. 

Mayor Julius Bloomfield joined the protestors and spoke with them, as well as media. While he made no promises about his vote, he did say that he would bring back what he heard to the council table for the discussion on the proposal the next day. 

"I'm one of five, so it's not what I say, it's what the majority of the five of us say," Bloomfield said. "We could say, 'yes, we like the idea, go ahead,' or we could say, 'no. we don't like the idea, don't go ahead,' or we could say, 'bring us back more information or bring us back some alternative ideas.'"

Bloomfield noted the staff recommendation to remove the spruce tree directly conflicts with the city's urban tree canopy policy, and that there were concerns about the changes potentially moving people on similar concerns about the city's Safe Public Places bylaw when that was introduced. 

"We don't want to victimize homeless people, but we do want to make sure people feel safe and to see what's going on in the areas where they have a high call-out rate for bylaw and RCMP, and to see if that can be alleviated," Bloomfield said.

The report will be going before city council on April 1 during their regular council meeting, not a public hearing, which means members of the public will not be able to address council before or during the presentation by city staff. 

Members of the public will be able to comment during the open question period at the end of the council meeting. 

Some of those gathered at Nanaimo Square said they planned to continue their protest outside City Hall during the council meeting April 1.