DETOX'S FATE NOW IN COUNCIL'S HANDS

Safe Harbour's recent victory in its bid to establish a detox centre
in Red Deer is being tempered by an upcoming city council decision
that will make or break the entire project.

Central Alberta's first detox centre can open temporarily kitty corner
to city hall in the new year as long as the society can secure a
permanent location by that time, decided the city's municipal planning
commission Monday.

The commission unanimously gave conditional approval to the society's
plan to turn the main floor of the Lovella Centre building at 4712-51
Ave. into an eight-bed non-medical detox centre for a period of up to
one year.

The society needs the temporary location because the permanent site it
is proposing to use wouldn't be available until next fall.

"This is a good first step," said Kath Hoffman, Safe Harbour's
residential director.

The society has been trying for years to secure an acceptable and
appropriate location for the centre they say is "desperately needed"
in Central Alberta.

Since January, 73 people from the area have had to be transported to
detox facilities in Edmonton and Calgary including a record high of
seven last week.

The society has secured funding for the detox centre through Alberta
Alcohol Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC).

But Safe Harbour will lose the funding if it does not obtain city
council approval for its proposed permanent site in Cannery Row by
Dec. 31.

Council is expected to consider first reading of a bylaw Monday that
would pave the way for the permanent site on the top floor at 4809-48
Ave. to open.

The society will also lose approval for the temporary location if city
council does not approve the permanent site.

Pending passage of first reading during the city council meeting
Monday, a public hearing on the permanent location would be held Dec.
5.

"We've got a bit of work to do," said Hoffman, referring to the
challenge of informing a broad-range of city residents about the
merits of the proposal and changing possible misconceptions.

MPC members said they found few problems with Safe Harbour's temporary
site proposal.

The non-medical detox centre program would serve adults who have
chosen to stop using drugs or alcohol.

The temporary location is intended to be an eight-bed residential
program that provides clients a supportive, drug and alcohol-free
environment while they detoxify and return to a healthier state.

Centre officials said the support program includes re-establishing
eating and sleeping routines, addiction information and self-help
support groups.

Clients would be referred to the centre and first contact would be
made by telephone. Walk-ins are not expected at the facility which
would be staffed and operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

A safety plan has been established with the help of the RCMP and a
seven foot high fence will be erected in the back of the building to
screen in the smoking area.

City manager Norbert Van Wyk who is an MPC member, said Safe Harbour
did a good job of addressing impacts of its temporary location.

"It is obvious this organization has thought through this very
thouroughly. I see no negative impacts," said Van Wyk.

Safe Harbour officials say the society's track record is very
good.

"We have already proven ourselves to be good neighbors through
two-and-a-half years at our overnight shelter," said Hoffman.

MPC also gave the overnight shelter approval to continue operating
Monday.

Should the permanent site be approved, the overnight shelter would
move into the new location with the detox.

If the permanent site is not approved, Hoffman said the society will
also lose funding for the overnight mat program as well.