For years, Riverside Trailer Park at 41119 Government Road has been a place for families and retirees in Squamish.
But now the 11 families calling it home are being told they have to leave.
Eviction notices have gone out, giving residents until Sept. 2025 to pack up and move on. For many, that feels impossible.
鈥淚 thought this was my retirement,鈥� said Duane Mark Trudeau, a 65-year-old resident. 鈥淣ow I have nowhere to go. I can鈥檛 afford anything else in Squamish.鈥�
As the families face an uncertain future, they鈥檙e left wondering why this is happening and whether anything can be done to stop it.
The notices, which two residents showed The 小蓝视频, were signed by hereditary Chief Bill Williams, cite rising utility expenses and the prohibitive costs of transitioning from septic systems to a District sewer system as the primary reasons for the closure.
鈥淥ur initial plan was to upgrade everyone from septic to District sewer,鈥� reads the evacuation notice letter.
鈥淗owever, since the building went up next door, the price has doubled, making this upgrade no longer financially feasible even with the increase in rent; it would take years for us to be able to afford this costly project.鈥�
The building next door is the S岣祑x瘫w煤7mesh 脷xwumixw (Squamish Nation)鈥檚 .
The property that holds that building now, previously, was the other half of the Riverside Trailer Park. That portion, however, was owned by the Nation.
In September 2016, the Nation announced to the 19 tenants who lived in that half of the park they would have to leave its Siyich鈥檈m Reserve by Sept. 30, 2017, due to the cost of replacing outdated water and sewer infrastructure.
The land then sat empty for several years before the current building was built and then occupied last year by in-need Squamish Nation members.
The 小蓝视频 reached out to the Nation who responded via email that the Nation 鈥渄oes not own this land, nor manage the trailer park.鈥�
鈥淐hief Bill Williams鈥� family owns the land and has been managing the trailer park for about 40 years. The Williams family are Sk瘫wx瘫wu虂7mesh people and Nation members.
Any tenancy agreements would be between the Williams鈥� family and the tenants, not Squamish Nation.鈥�
鈥業t was economics鈥�: Chief Bill Williams says
Williams said the decision behind the evictions came down to cost.
鈥淥ur prices have been the lowest in the whole valley,鈥� Williams said in a phone interview with The 小蓝视频.
Trudeau pays $480 for his spot at the Trailer Park.
鈥淚 gave them a full year鈥檚 notice to leave the park. During the year, they won鈥檛 have to pay rent. It was economics鈥攎oney that made me come to the decision. The cost of running nine trailers is too high. We knew that there might be some health issues all the time.鈥�
The 小蓝视频 reached out to the District of Squamish about the cost of sewer upgrades, but did not hear back by press time.
While Williams has committed to waiving rent during the transition period, residents are still struggling to come to terms with the decision and what it means for their future.
鈥業 thought this was my retirement鈥�
For Trudeau, the notice marks the end of a promise he believed would last for the rest of his life.
鈥淲hen I moved here 10 years ago, I was told I鈥檇 never have to worry about this happening,鈥� said Trudeau.
鈥淣ow, I have no alternative. On my pension, I can鈥檛 afford rent anywhere in Squamish. I鈥檝e been looking for months, but even sharing a bedroom is out of reach. I might have to live in a van.鈥�
Trudeau, who has heart disease and psoriatic arthritis, expressed frustration over the lack of direct communication from the owners.
鈥淭hey sent someone we鈥檝e never seen before to deliver the letters. And the letter said, 鈥楾hank you for your understanding and cooperation during this challenging time.鈥� Whose challenging time is this?鈥�
Despite health challenges that limit his mobility, Trudeau said he鈥檚 left with no choice but to uproot.
鈥淚 thought I was safe here. This was my retirement plan, but now I have to tear everything down or sell it piece by piece. I wouldn鈥檛 have invested in this place if I鈥檇 known it was only for 10 years.鈥�
Infrastructure costs or development plans?
鈥淸Chief Bill Williams] has the right to do what he wants with the property, but it feels like this decision comes at our expense,鈥� said resident Anna Busch.
Busch, who has lived in the park for six years, said residents offered multiple solutions, including pooling their money to pay for the sewer upgrades.
But she said none of the solutions were accepted.
The strain on residents
Busch shared how costly it has been to maintain their septic systems, which need to be emptied every three to four weeks for $400 to $700 each time.
鈥淚t鈥檚 still better than paying $3,000 a month for a one-bedroom apartment,鈥� she said.
鈥淥ur pad fees were affordable, and to Bill鈥檚 credit, he didn鈥檛 raise them much over the years. But now this is happening, and it鈥檚 devastating for so many people.鈥�
What鈥檚 next?
The uncertainty has pushed some residents to start looking at alternatives, including relocating their mobile homes to more affordable areas.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been looking at property in Lillooet,鈥� said Busch. 鈥淏ut moving the home will cost money, and if we can鈥檛 find a plot, the home loses so much value鈥攂y as much as 50%. Selling it here is going to be a nightmare.鈥�
Others, like Trudeau, face an even more precarious future.
鈥淚鈥檓 on disability. I can鈥檛 afford rent anywhere. I went to apply for senior housing, but they told me the waitlist was closed. They just said, 鈥楰eep checking the website.鈥� I鈥檝e got no options left.鈥�
Busch voiced similar concerns for her neighbours.
鈥淚t might not destroy my life, but for others, it could. This will ruin people. There are no affordable options in Squamish.鈥�
The bigger picture
Busch acknowledged the landowner鈥檚 right to make decisions about the property but said the process lacked compassion.
鈥淚 understand this is their land, and they can do what they want with it. But the way this has been handled feels wrong. There was no attempt to work with us or find a solution.鈥�
For Trudeau and others, the loss of their homes is not just a logistical challenge but a deep emotional blow.
鈥淚 was born and raised in Squamish,鈥� said Trudeau. 鈥淣ow, I can鈥檛 even afford to stay here. It鈥檚 heartbreaking.鈥�
Bhagyashree Chatterjee is The 小蓝视频's Indigenous and civic affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the.
