Family and friends have confirmed, Chrissy Brett, a vocal organizer, advocate, and the face of ‘tent city’ encampments throughout Victoria, has passed away.
According to reports, Brett, who was in her late 40s, died of a suspected overdose.
While Brett had moved to Vancouver, she became a controversial figure when it came to sentiments around encampments which began in late 2015 with formation of tent city that occupied the grounds of the Victoria provincial court house for nearly a year.
At one point, the encampment had saw nearly 300 residents living behind the court house, those people were either relocated, or offered alternative places to live.
Following the destruction of that encampment in 2016, Brett helped facilitate replacement tent city’s around Greater Victoria, which became known as “Roving Tent Cities” some locations included in Oak Bay, Brentwood Bay and Saanich.
Several of the locations included Regina Park in Saanich, Rudd Park, and then later Goldstream Provincial Park. The camp had also been set up on a private property on West Saanich Road before being removed.
Matriarch. pic.twitter.com/ZtY0TdE3Qg
— The Homeless Idea Podcast. (@BeaconHillFolks) July 18, 2022
The self-referred “encampment founder” was arrested in October 2020 after she helped form a homeless camp at Woodwynn Farms in Central Saanich.
There has been an outpouring of support for Brett on social media following her death, many thanking her championing the way for change in how the province deal with the housing situation for the vulnerable population.
Brett leaves behind two children.
