Last tent gone from Roos Island

For the first time in more than a year, Roos Island in Kitchener’s Victoria Park is empty.

For the first time in more than a year, Roos Island in Kitchener’s Victoria Park is empty.

It appears the final person who had been living in a tent on the island has left. As of Tuesday morning, their belongings are no longer there.

There had been tents on the island since the summer of 2022. For the last few months, only one remained.

At one point, the green space was home to dozens of people experiencing homelessness.

Then in April, the city fenced off public access to Roos Island as staff worked to relocate people who had been living there.

It’s been blocked off ever since. The city says staff are completing rehabilitation work, including repairing the Heritage Bridge, upgrading the bandstand and doing landscaping.

Initially the island was set to reopen during the fall, but there were delays.