DRUGS PLAGUE ARBORETUM - SUPERINTENDENT

Security Aware Of Problems But Does Not Claim Responsibility For
Grounds

Drug use has turned the Arboretum grounds into a trafficking zone,
said Arboretum superintendent Sid Baller.

"It's not only Humber students, people from off campus are coming here
to sell drugs and to use drugs," said Baller. "There is definitely a
clientele from the Humberwood Boulevard area."

Baller, who has worked in the Arboretum for 20 years, said the area
has an extensive history of drug use, but in the last two years the
problem has really escalated.

"There are constant parades of people from residence using the
Arboretum to smoke up," he said. "People are starting to avoid the
grounds here at night, it becomes a really scary place."

Drug usage in the Arboretum has become a concern for the nearby
daycare centre on the North Campus.

"A parent pulled into the daycare parking lot and saw the people in
the next car rolling a joint," said the daycare's director Bridget
Woodcock. "That was the first time we felt we had to call the police
and notify security."

Woodcock said drug use around the centre had not been an issue before
this school year.

"A high number of students have started using the gazebo close to the
daycare centre, we can tell there is drug use going on, we can smell
it."

Baller said that during the construction of the Centre for Urban
Ecology, there was a security guard on the grounds at all times.
During the construction, instances of drug usage and vandalism
plummeted. "The drug use rebounded as soon as the security guard
left," he said.

Gary Jeynes, director of public safety, said the College does not have
an obligation to secure the Arboretum.

"We'll provide as much assistance and surveillance as we can to the
police, but as far as going to the Arboretum and tracking people, that
is not our responsibility."

The discrepancy over whether the Arboretum grounds are college
property may account for lack of security in the area. Baller said the
Arboretum is Humber property which is open to the public. Jeynes said
it is not college property, and it has nothing to do with Humber.

According to Barbara Fox, coordinator for the Centre of Urban Ecology,
the Arboretum is a joint partnership between the City of Toronto,
Toronto Region Conservation Area, and Humber College.

According to Toronto Police Sergeant Richard Blanchard, the police
work with the college security all the time.

"We haven't been informed of any problem this year so far. Last
semester we were informed of certain problems and we stepped up our
presence on campus," said Blanchard.

"When the weather warms up, we are in that area a lot more, and we use
our bikes to patrol the paths in the Arboretum."

Humber security is aware of the problems said Baller, but he does not
know of any efforts security has taken to fix the situation.

"Communication is poor from that department, it has always been poor."

Baller said that once the weather begins to warm up, the problem will
only get worse.

"Thank god there hasn't been murders and beatings in the Arboretum,
but if you let these drug deals continue, that is what will follow."