Woman living in tent near Hamilton’s Wentworth Stairs fined $615

A Hamilton woman living in a tent near the Wentworth Stairs was handed a $615 ticket Wednesday under the Railway Safety Act.

Those who live in the wooded area say they aren’t close to the tracks, but are being asked to leave without any answers as to where they should go next.

Kristen Baker pitched her tent in the wooded area near the base of the Wentworth Stairs on Saturday, and by the following Wednesday she was being handed a hefty fine.

“I was sitting by my tent with my dogs and they walked up, called me out of my tent, and they said they were the railway police, and that they were handing me a ticket,” said Baker.

She was handed a $615 ticket for violating the Railway Safety Act.

The train tracks near the Wentworth Stairs are managed by Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), a name that can also be seen on the ticket.

CPKC told CHCH News that tickets were issued to several people in Hamilton this week.

“And then they came back and gave me one for $65 and said the one for $615 is to be void,” said Baker.

Baker’s tent is the first one you can see when you come down from the side of the trail from Wentworth Street, but from where she is located, you can’t even see the train tracks on the other side.

Ken Bosveld, volunteers to serve hot meals every week to those struggling in Hamilton. He was stunned when he heard about this situation.

“She’s been charged for being on the rail line property, and yet she is on the opposite side of the rail trail from the rail line,” said Bosveld. “So that would mean everyone who uses the rail trail is also in violation of the same act – it just seems ridiculous. In fact, it’s harassment.”

There are several others living in tents along the rail trail, like one man named JP.

“No, we didn’t get one because we are further down, but our ticket will be coming,” said JP.

JP is a type 1 diabetic who says the 9-to-5 shelter system doesn’t work for him because his insulin needs to be kept with staff.

He’s been meeting with social workers to find suitable housing, but doesn’t expect to have a proper roof over his head anytime soon.

“I want to live in a place where I can actually get my life back together,” said JP, “that’s why I could go back to work.”

Since March 6, the City of Hamilton has been working to clear out encampments and told CHCH News “enforcement continues to be a top priority along the escarpment.”

So far, the city says 163 encampments have been cleared from public property.

But for many people, there are no other options, because their beloved pets are keeping them out of the traditional shelter system.

“This one came into our life and most places don’t accept dogs,” said one person.

“They are my emotional support,” said Baker.

JP says he would gladly move his tent to a sanctioned area if there was one in the city.

“We are just fellow Hamiltonians, that unfortunately got stuck on the bottom end,” said JP. “We are asking the city, ‘can you please meet us half-way on anything and we will gladly go’.”

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