TREATMENT CENTRE PROPOSED FOR CAMP TEES

Central Alberta Group Hopes To Utilize Former Prison Facility To Treat
Drug And Acohol Abuse

A group of local investors hopes to transform an abandoned
minimum-security prison near Tees into a private drug and alcohol
treatment centre.

Jim Gray of Ponoka and Karen Cretny of Clive hope to purchase the
former Camp Tees correctional facility, located a few kilometres
northeast of the hamlet, and establish a private treatment centre for
about 20 male clients, employing up to 15 people.

Camp Tees closed in April 2004 to save the Province about $100,000 per
year.

Gray and Cretny, who are both recovering alcoholics, hope to establish
the facility in February and treat about 20 male alcoholics and/or
drug abusers. The five-week volunteer program would see clients
participate in group therapy, one-on-one counselling, lectures, films,
recreational outings and meetings.

"There's such a need for these out there," said Gray, pointing to long
waiting lists at treatment centres in other Alberta
communities.

"The more we knew about this place, the more we knew it was ideal,"
said Cretny, whose life turned around four years ago after seeking
treatment. She's currently enrolled in her final year of studies at
Red Deer College in the faculty of social work. Her long-term goal is
to work as a counsellor at the treatment centre.

Gray, who manages construction camps for a living, decided that a
treatment centre was needed in Central Alberta after his son was hit
by a drunk driver in a non-fatal car crash on Highway 2A north of
Lacombe on Dec. 30, 2004.

Gray and Cretny said they agreed to purchase the old Camp Tees for
about $140,000 and are just waiting to take ownership from the
Province. They hope to establish a work camp for oilfield workers in
the next few weeks before obtaining the necessary permits and
licensing from government to operate a private treatment centre. The
site is currently zoned for agricultural use.

"I've seen the hope when people come back, including myself," said
Cretny. "I forgot how to live when I was involved with drinking. I
forgot how to have fun."

Two retired counsellors from B.C. have been recruited to help get the
facility off the ground. Gray said he hopes to attract businesses that
are willing to pay for employees' drug or alcohol treatment. All
clients will be medically screened and must be sober for at least one
week before being admitted.

"This isn't a detox, this is a recovery," he said.

To ensure security, the site would be under 24-hour alarmed
surveillance, with at least one staff member always on duty. Private
vehicles won't be allowed on site.

Establishing an alcohol and drug treatment centre at Camp Tees would
require an amendment to the land-use zoning district, said Allan
Williams, Lacombe County's manager of planning services.

"We can look at this type of facility, but council first has to
approve a change to the land-use bylaw," he said.

Council would either have to approve the facility as a discretionary
use at the Camp Tees site specifically, or adopt a general rule for
agricultural districts County-wide, Williams added. Any bylaw
amendment would require a public hearing.

Last February, County councillors rejected the Lacombe Action Group's
plan to establish a group home in an agricultural district, citing
concern over limited police presence in rural areas.

Gray felt that creating a treatment centre at the former home of a
minimum-security prison wouldn't be much of a stretch.

"It was a prison before, and here you'd be getting people who haven't
done anything--they just want to sober up," he said.

Williams said previous land uses could have little bearing on
council's decision.

"That use is finished," he said. "We have to look at it on its own
merits."

Williams said the Municipal Planning Commission could review Gray's
and Cretny's request to operate a work camp in mid-November, if the
ownership group provides proof that they hold the title.

Gray said he's already spoken with neighbours in the area about the
treatment centre plan and has received some positive feedback when the
idea is fully explained.

"A lot of people have no idea what treatment is," said Cretny. "I had
no idea what a treatment centre was, I just knew I needed help. There
is a lot of fear when you walk into the unknown."

The next step for Gray and Cretny is to clean and renovate the camp to
prepare it for work crews, pending County approval.