Ken Harrison, known at Pops at Costco, has been panhandling at the store's location for the last eight years.

(CARLI BERRY / iNFOnews.ca)

- This story was originally published Feb. 15, 2022.

A notable face outside of Kelowna’s Costco will be moving along with the warehouse.

Ken “Pops” Harrison has spent the last eight years panhandling at the Costco location at the intersection of Highway 33 and Ziprick Road. 

The formerly homeless man said he uses the money collected to pay his rent at McCurdy Place, a supportive housing location in Kelowna, and to support his wife.

“They love me out (at McCurdy place),” he chuckled.

Kids also walk by with their parents and they recognize him and say “hi,” he said.

Harrison said he’s an ex-alcoholic who was born in Vancouver and moved around the province. He grew up in Kimberly.

He believes people are nice to him because he’s nice to them.

“If they don’t have money, I don’t care. Have a good day... I’m pleasant every time,” he said. “Some people don’t like it but c’mon now, I’m 70-years-old, I don’t want to work anymore… it doesn’t make life easy, I make enough here to pay my rent.”

His wife is currently in the hospital with nowhere to go once she’s released, he said. “She was going through a tough time, they kicked her out,” he said, adding she used to live in a location on the Westside.

“These shelters should be looked into. My wife is 54-years-old and she has health problems… she’s been trying to stay clean and yet she can’t get her methadone.”

McCurdy Place is also full, he said. 

Kelowna is one of the most unaffordable cities in Canada. Nearly half of the city’s renters are spending more than 30% of their income on housing.

A report presented to city council last month said the average house price would have to be cut in half or incomes increase by $100,000 to bridge the affordability gap.

READ MORE: Kelowna is one of the most unaffordable cities in Canada and looking for ways to change

Most of the Costco employees have been nice to him but every once in a while have become annoyed, he said. “Once in a while there are two or three people out here and they don’t like that… outside of that, they don’t mind me”

The new Costco is opening down the road Feb. 17 and he will be moving along with it, he said. He originally started panhandling at Wal-Mart but it was quiet so he moved to the Costco location.

READ MORE: Kelowna Costco announces Feb. 17 opening date for new store

— This story was originally published, Feb. 13, 2022.

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