Every now and then, the term 'Tent City' pops up and then goes away for another couple of years, much to the delight of those who live there.
The recent string of break-ins at businesses in the area around Anne Street, Tiffin Street, Dyment Road, Hart Drive and Dunlop Street has again brought attention to the off-the-grid community known to some as Tent City.
While Barrie police have made two arrests in the rash of break-ins, they are not saying if the accused had anything to do with Tent City, nor is there any current link between any of the thefts or acts of mischief to the area.
But, as with any incidents that occur within the neighbourhood, sometimes the first look is toward the makeshift camps in the bush, where some people live, sometimes with mental-health or substance-abuse issues. Sometimes people just choose to live where they wish and not depend on the sometimes-over-crowded facilities around the city.
On Wednesday, BarrieToday took a walk into the wooded area that has long been known to house many people who range in age, sex, race and reason.
In the area observed, there were five people sitting around three tents having conversation.
Standing at the fence of a business that backed on to the forest, a quick hand motion signalled a request to come in and chat.
They were hesitant at first, but eventually an invitation down to their camp was granted and people living there began to open up, even making light of the difficulty a reporter had getting to the spot.
“I don’t know why you started coming through that thick bush over there. You should have just come the way you just did the first time around,” said one man, who wanted to remain anonymous and out of the camera's eye.
“I wouldn’t doubt you rummaged through some poison ivy.”
The notion is immediately laughed off, followed by trying to remember how many leaves the plant has. Then there was an instant itchy feeling at the mere thought.
Chatting with them, it could be seen that all appeared to be sober and coherent, dispelling the myth that all who are down in the camps are always high or drunk.
When asked if they were aware of the recent break-ins in the area, and if they felt it could be anyone from the bush, a woman named Ray spoke up. She said they heard of it, but that it wasn’t anyone who hangs out with them.
“We hear about stuff all the time, but there’s no stolen goods down here; you can take a look around,” Ray says. “This camp you’re at now is a good place and we’re just minding our business and sometimes wished others would, too, when it comes to accusing everyone who camps here.
"We are not bad people and we don’t harm anyone," Ray adds. "Maybe had a bit off a laugh at you bushwhacking your way to get here, but that’s all in fun.”
The itchiness returns.
There's a quick realization that Ray is right: the group has been very hospitable. Drinks are offered.
Ray comes over to chat more and makes it clear she’s not looking for hand-outs and isn’t forced into being there.
“I stay down here by choice, kind of like camping down here for the summer, but then plan on being housed by the fall,” Ray says. “Me and T-Boy are getting married in the fall as well, so that is the plan, but what people need to understand is we’re not homeless, we’re houseless right now and there is a difference.”
The 37-year-old Ray is accurate in her statement of being houseless and not homeless, as the three tents constructed by her fiancé, T-Boy, were all next to each other and raised up on blocks and wood to keep off the sometimes-wet ground.
The man who wishes to remain anonymous points out Tuesday night’s heavy rainfall as a good reason for the boosts to the tents.
“Man, I tell you, last night we were flooded through here with all that rain. It was up well past my ankles, but we make it work and stayed dry as best we could," he says.
Ray begins to open up a little more and says that, while she isn’t originally from Barrie, hard times did bring her here and it is where she now happily calls home.
“I left North Bay in September 2013 after I lost everything -- my house, my kids -- moved here with a boyfriend who ended up being abusive and I sent him to jail for it,” says Ray.
“After that and breaking up with him, I got my own place until April of last year and then was, as they say, couch surfing for a bit," Ray says. "Now, I’m here and hoping to find a place we can afford when the time is right.”
Last year, the body of a 39-year-old woman was found in the Tent City area. While police ruled out foul play, many local residents and business owners were left feeling uneasy and concerned for their safety.
When the topic comes up with the camp of five, heads shake and Ray speaks up, saying that it was sad and unfortunate, but that many know it was an overdose and was a rare occurrence in the area.
“I don’t have a drug problem, no one sitting here has a drug problem and you don’t see any needles laying around,” Ray says. “We admit we smoke the odd joint and maybe have a beer or two, but we keep to ourselves and don’t harm nobody.
"We didn’t steal anything from anywhere and no one at this camp would ever do that.”
A man going by the name Whitey speaks up, adding there are rules and anyone at the camp abides by them.
“This isn’t my place, but I do know that there are rules and one is no hard drugs,” says Whitey. “I can’t stand the sight of needles and won’t be around them.
"We just want to live our way of life and we stay out of others way, too. We even recycle, for crying out loud. That basket over there is our recycle area and we pick up our own garbage and take care of each other. No kids allowed here, either. They can’t be here and anyone who tries to cause trouble is asked to leave.
"To us, there’s no difference in the rules than of someone’s home or neighbourhood who might read this. We don’t want trouble and we treat each other like family.”
T-Boy has been in Canada for a couple of years, having moved from his native Hungary.
The campsite set up was put together by T-Boy, who pitched the third tent for any guests who may pop in and need a place to sleep.
The anonymous man speaks up again and mentions some of the places in the city that are there to help and what they’re like.
“You ever been to the Busby?” he asks, referring to the David Busby Street Centre in downtown Barrie.
“I know they’re doing good for people, but that place is chaotic and loud and people there are not for us. Not for me, anyway," he says. "We get help where it's needed, but why wait in line and wonder where you’re gonna sleep for the night when we have a place? That’s my thought."
Saying goodbye and thanking them for their time, it soon becomes clear this wasn’t the dangerous assignment it may have appeared to be on the surface.
No one should just wander into the area thinking it will be full of laughs and conversation, as the group admits there can be some rough people and rough nights, particularly when outsiders venture in.
That being said, all agreed they know they’ll be in the news every time something comes up in their neck of the woods, but want people to take a look at how many times that actually is and realize they’re not harming anybody by being there.
