An advocate for the homeless who first came to the public’s attention in 2015 as leader of a tent city on the grounds of the Victoria courthouse has died.
Chrissy Brett died Saturday night in Vancouver, a family friend confirmed Monday.
Brett, who was in her mid-forties, died in her sleep, said community organizer Fiona York, who worked closely with Brett for the past three years at tent cities in Vancouver.
A controversial figure, Brett continued her work with Greater Victoria’s most vulnerable in 2018, leading a roving group of homeless campers from Rudd Park and Ravine Way in Saanich to campsites in Goldstream park, private property on West Saanich Road, provincial land off the Pat Bay Highway and Cattle Point in Oak Bay.
“She was fearless,” said York, who worked with Brett at tent cities in Vancouver’s Oppenheimer Park, Strathcona Park and Crab Park. “The impact of her activism is really immeasurable and I don’t really know if we can register that at this point. She’s been such a force raising the visibility, raising the needs and the issues.”
For the past year, Brett was involved in supporting people experiencing homelessness and fighting to improve housing in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, said York. But she still had many connections in Victoria and on Vancouver Island and provided front-line support to people experiencing homelessness.
Prior to her work with tent cities, she was active in reconciliation efforts with First Nations, York said. “She had a provincial vision of housing and dignity, respect and equality for Indigenous people and all people who are unhoused or not properly housed.”
Some accused Brett of fostering antisocial behaviour, criminal activity and drug use in the tent cities. A petition on change.org urged the government to ban Brett from all tents cities in B.C.Others accused her of using the campers — some of whom called her Mama Bear — for her own ideological ends.
Brett was always in a fight, but battled with honour and dignity and did not back down, said York.
“She was my teacher and my friend. She showed me how to be strong and how to have those struggles and push through and to not be afraid and to be able to make changes.”
Victoria lawyer Catherine Boies Parker said Monday she can’t think of anyone who has done more to address the needs of the most vulnerable.
“Chrissy was an amazing person. She was so dedicated to ensuring the dignity and well being of the homeless, she was so gifted at bringing disparate people together to solve problems and she was kind and calm and compassionate in the most difficult of circumstances,” said Boies Parker.
“She had a wicked sense of humour and could definitely stir up trouble when she thought that was what was needed to make a point or to protect people. The world has lost a unique, bright, warm, loving, mischievous and magical light.”
There was no confirmation from the authorities or the coroner about Brett’s cause of death, but many on social media said she succumbed to an illicit-drug overdose.
“It is always sad to hear that another individual has succumbed to the lethal drug poisoning crisis. My thoughts go out to her family and loved ones left behind,” Kathy Stinson, chief executive officer of the Victoria Cool Aid Society, wrote in an email.
ldickson@timescolonist.com
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