HOUSE 'BACK TO RECOVERY'

A city-imposed deadline on a local drug recovery house has come and gone,
and the head of the North Surrey facility says he'll continue operating.

"We're getting back to the business of recovery," said Richard Schmold,
operator of Cornerstone Manor, a collection of three recovery homes serving
about 15 clients in Whalley.

The future of the facility was cast in doubt two months ago when a Surrey
bylaw enforcement officer issued a compliance order on Cornerstone.

"A recent inspection of the above property has revealed that you are
operating a recovery home," the notice stated, adding the property isn't
properly zoned for that purpose.

"You are required to stop this illegal use by Aug. 15," the notice ordered.

Now that the deadline has passed, Mayor Dianne Watts said the city's
lawyers will report back to council on how next to proceed. A report will
likely be coming back when council returns next month.

Meanwhile, Schmold said Wednesday the city's action has been an unfortunate
distraction which has caused some of his clients to leave.

"We've lost a number of guys over this (uncertainty)," Schmold said.

City officials have said the reason Cornerstone was singled out was because
someone reported bylaw infractions, rather than compelling evidence
suggesting clients weren't being well-treated.

The challenge of regulating recovery homes goes back to the mid-1990s, when
then-councillor Dianne Watts spearheaded a drug and alcohol recovery task
force.

Part of the recommendations hinged on provincial regulations which were
introduced by the NDP and then deregulated by the Liberals after the 2001
election.

Mayor Watts said she will begin lobbying the province to re-enact legislation.

Just back from a trip to Britain where she reviewed a crime reduction
strategy, Watts wants to increase the number of drug recovery facilities in
this city as part of criminal reform.