Homeless man found dead in northwestern B.C. tent camp following freezing night

The B.C CoronersService is investigating the death of a man who was found in a tent at a homeless encampment downtown in Terrace in northwesternB.C., Thursday morning.

Mounties said temperatures dropped below 20 C, 30 C with the windchill overnight Wednesday. Investigators said the death is not considered suspicious.

RCMP Staff Sgt. Mario Cloutier says city bylaw officers performing proactive patrols of the homeless camp discovered the victim and called first responders.

B.C. Emergency Health Services said two ambulances responded to the camp in the 4500-block Greig Ave. in Terrace.Paramedics did not transport anyone to hospital.

CBC has not independently confirmed the name of the victim, but Terracesocial service agencies and Indigenous groups say he was a familiar, friendlyfigure on downtown streets.

"We are very sad to hear of his passing. Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and all who knew him in the community," said Vicky Serafini, communication specialist with Terrace's Ksan Society, in a statement to CBCNews.

"The individual did have access to our shelter on the evening of his passing. Our shelter spaces are accessible 24/7, and during extreme weather, we always ensure we have sufficient overflow capacity for those seeking shelter. Individuals will sometimes choose not to access the shelter."

Mayor calls for help

Newly-elected Terrace Mayor Sean Bujtassaid he knew the victim who had been staying wherea few dozen tents are clustered on city property, where the city's co-op stop once stood.

Terrace's homeless population, per capita, is double that of B.C.'sLower Mainland.In recent days the camp has been largely abandoned as the unhoused scattered to find warmer shelter.

Bujtas says Terrace doesn't have the support from other levels of government to tackle the complex crisis of people facing homelessness, mental health issues, and addictions.

"We continue to lobby and beg the governments to bring these supports in, and they don't come. And this isn't the current [political]party, this is all parties, none of them have stepped up and taken care of this issue in our community, and they continue to fail them.

"It's unacceptable."