CANADA WAS BUILT ON TOLERANCE, ENCOURAGEMENT AND SECOND CHANCES

The Editor,

Re: "Drug recovery house turns neighbours against neighbours," the
News letters, Sept. 7.

Judging by some of the letters to the Richmond News regarding the
Turning Point recovery home, it seems some people have learned
absolutely nothing from the last time we had a home being placed in our city.

This was a situation that turned very ugly very quickly when some of
the neighbours in the Odlin district acted in a very unwelcoming way.
There were demonstrations outside the home of people chanting "go
away" repeatedly in loud voices and also the playing of loud music
outside the home for hours on end.

This while people were trying to progress through the recovery
process. Fortunately, there were in this neighbourhood people who
supported and indeed encouraged the home as most of us would.

Eventually, the situation calmed down and I understand that over the
years there has not been one bad incident with regard to the area
from anyone from the home.

If the Ash Street neighbours who are complaining about the home being
placed in their area would go visit the Odlin neighbourhood and talk
to the residents as well as the people at the Turning Point recovery
home, they would very quickly have all their fears relieved.

Canadians believe in tolerance, encouragement and second chances and
this is exactly what people with substance abuse problems need.

Alan Halliday

Richmond