What a difference a week makes.
After being told by the City of Langford to hit the road, and served notice that he could no longer park his trailer on Goldstream Avenue 鈥� a place he called "home" for over a year 鈥� Glenn Edgeworth was facing an uncertain future.
But then hope came knocking at his door.
A kind stranger 鈥� who wishes to remain anonymous 鈥� moved by the 61-year-old's story, offered him a place to stay on their remote Greater Victoria property, with access to water and electricity 鈥� for free.
鈥淚t was dumbfounding,鈥� said Edgeworth about the moment he realized life had taken an unexpected, yet welcome turn.
Now, instead of sitting inside, listening to the steady stream of traffic whizz past his trailer, Edgeworth can sit outside and enjoy the tranquility of the great outdoors on his doorstep 鈥� the quiet only broken by the squawks of ravens flying overhead.
鈥淭he deer are pretty quiet though,鈥� he jokes. 鈥淚 can't stop smiling.鈥�
The Good Samaritan was not the only person to offer Edgeworth sanctuary. Among the offers, one Langford resident offered him a place to stay for a month on their driveway.
Support swelled online for Edgeworth too, leaving him feeling 鈥榝labbergasted鈥� and 鈥榦verwhelmed鈥�.
鈥淭he government is the one that makes us feel oppressed for the most part,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut most people, I think they're really cheering for people like us that are just trying to get by living in our RVs or vans.
鈥淭here's a lot of sympathy out there, a lot more than the government realizes, I think.鈥�
Edgeworth was one of many folks using the boulevard, between the 400 and 500 block of Goldstream Avenue, as a place to park their recreational vehicle.
Some used the spot as a temporary stop-gap; for others, it was a more permanent solution to their housing problem, despite having to move their vehicle every three days to avoid fines from the city鈥檚 bylaw enforcement team.
Living with stage four prostate cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, emphysema and unable to work, Edgeworth previously said life on Goldstream Avenue had given him stability.
But the row of RVs and trailers has been an ongoing bone of contention for some neighbouring residents, who complained to the city about noise and garbage accumulation.
Currently, parking is not allowed on the stretch of Goldstream Avenue until July 14 to allow for remediation work. After this, restrictions will no longer allow recreational vehicles to park in the area.
The city has expressed sympathy for the RV community affected by the enforcement, but has called on the province to work with social services and affordable housing providers to find compassionate, long-term solutions.
Now, for the first time in many years, Goldstream Avenue is free of RVs and trailers.
It鈥檚 a bittersweet moment for Edgeworth, who wonders where his neighbours have moved on to.
"They weren't as lucky as me," he says.
He hopes with the help of a community support worker he will be able to track some of them down and reconnect.
The new location has afforded Edgeworth many new luxuries, often taken for granted.
Able to unhitch his trailer from his truck, Edgeworth can come and go to visit his mom in View Royal, free from the worry of bylaw impounding his home.
With electricity, he can stock his fridge and freezer. And the extra space allows him to fully extend the width of his trailer and decorate his walls with family photos.
"I couldn't have them out because they kept falling off the walls when I was driving," Edgeworth says.
The new home has also been a blessing for his two cats Jack and Ollie. The pair have been able to leave the confines of the trailer for the first time in over a year 鈥� excited to see (and eat) grass.
鈥淲hen I first got the harness on them, they were a little leery of stepping outside, but after that first time, now they're telling me they want to go outside,鈥� Edgeworth says.
As for why Edgeworth's new 'landlord' offered a stranger and his two cats somewhere to say, their answer is simple and to the point.
"This is what Canadians do," they said.