VLA PLAY AREA STUCK WITH NEEDLES

An eight-year-old boy was sent to hospital Wednesday after being poked with
a discarded needle that was lying on the ground near a popular wooded play
area in the VLA.

While the boy's mother took him to the hospital for testing, another mother
of one of the boys who was also playing in the area got her sister and
began cleaning things up.

"What we found was massive amounts of needles and needle paraphernalia,"
said Vicki Lacey. "We just went a little ways along the trail by the creek
where the kids play, but somebody has got to clean up that whole area. It
is a hazard," said the angry mother. "Tonnes of kids play there, many
people go walking or biking. I'm just glad my kid had the sense to come to
us right away."

The boy was taken to hospital to be checked out for communicable diseases
that can live on the dirty needles. Lacey said there are several hidden
areas in the woods around the VLA neighbourhood that used by IV drug users.

"We gathered up half a big black garbage bag full of needles and needle
packages and just trash, just in that little area we looked over," said
sister Natasha Lacey. "I see a needle or two in my neighbourhood, too, but
this was different. It was everywhere," she said.

"I know we live in the 'bad' neighbourhood, but you can still dispose of
your garbage or do it in the privacy of your own home," said Vicki Lacey.
"I'm going to be doing a bunch more cleaning and I hope some other people
will join me."

She took the garbage to the RCMP detachment for disposal as she wanted to
show police evidence of the problem in the neighbourhood and so someone of
authority could properly dispose of the dangerous trash.