The Shameful Silence of Parksville City Hall: Abandoning the Vulnerable in a Time of Crisis

In the heart of Oceanside, British Columbia, where the beauty of Vancouver Island meets the harsh reality of growing poverty, one organization has steadfastly shouldered the burden of caring for the homeless and at-risk: Manna Homeless Society. For years, Manna has provided emergency food, clothing, hygiene supplies, temporary shelter, mobile foot care, and compassionate outreach to those forgotten by society—individuals, families, and seniors teetering on the edge of despair. Volunteers pour their hearts into this work, often at great personal cost, filling gaps that no one else will touch.

Yet, not once—not a single time—has anyone from Parksville City Hall bothered to visit Manna’s operations, witness the overwhelming load its volunteers carry, or extend a genuine offer of support.

No city official has looked at the exhausted faces of those volunteers handing out food in the cold, distributing sleeping bags to people sleeping in cars, or bandaging the feet of the walking wounded, and said: “You are doing incredible work for our community’s most vulnerable. How can we help? Let us provide a safe piece of land where you can operate without fear of eviction, where you can expand your services to better aid our poor and at-risk citizens.”

Instead, silence. Indifference. And worse: active obstruction.

History bears this out. In 2018, the City of Parksville issued a cease-and-desist order to Manna, forcing the society to stop using city-owned land for its mobile clinic and outreach—land that had become a lifeline for the homeless. Complaints about “mess” trumped the needs of human beings in crisis. Relations were briefly “mended” on paper, but the pattern persists: withdrawn liaisons to homelessness task forces, votes against meaningful collaboration, and a refusal to designate safe spaces like parking lots for those living in vehicles.

This is not mere bureaucratic oversight. This is cowardice. City Hall hides behind policies and complaints from residents who “are fed up,” while ignoring the moral imperative to protect the least among us. When leadership turns its back on the suffering right in its own streets—people selling their dignity to survive the cold, hidden homeless growing in numbers, mental health and addiction crises unchecked—it exposes a profound failure.

But this goes deeper than politics. This is a spiritual war. By refusing to support those who feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and shelter the stranger, Parksville City Hall stands in direct opposition to the Creator’s will. Scripture is clear: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). Everything Manna does aligns with this divine command—acts of mercy, love, and justice. Yet City Hall’s actions (and inactions) defy it, prioritizing comfort and appearances over compassion.

How long will this shame continue? How many more must suffer before leadership awakens to its responsibility? Manna Homeless Society will not stop serving, because we cannot turn away from those in need. But Parksville deserves better from its elected officials. The community deserves leaders who partner with frontline warriors like Manna, not abandon them.

It’s time for change. It’s time for courage. It’s time to choose humanity over indifference.

Robin Campbell

Founder and Director, Manna Homeless Society

Parksville, British Columbia