STEAM VENTED OVER NEEDLE EXCHANGE MOVE

Chilliwack business owners blew off steam yesterday at city hall about not
being warned the local harm reduction program had moved into their
neighbourhood.

A meeting was thrown together between fuming business owners, city, RCMP
and program officials.

The aim was to defuse the situation by tackling skewed perceptions about
such programs operating alongside businesses.

"A number of people were absolutely furious about the lack of communication
with the business and residential community," said Anne Hails, owner of
Dickens Sweets.

She said "blood was boiling" over the fact the harm reduction program -
which includes needle exchange as one component - has moved from its space
near Southgate Mall to a suite at 45910 Alexander Ave., without prior
warning for the merchants of Railway and Alexander Avenues.

"We all recognize the need for such a facility," Ms. Hails underlined, "but
the location became an issue."

Coming out of the meeting she said she's still not completely happy about
it, but feels the merchants' main concerns will be resolved. Councillor Mel
Folkman, who sits on the harm reduction advisory committee, said the matter
is really about perceptions. With more education, fears will diminish about
the provincially-funded program, he said.

"I think the consensus was we'd see how this goes. With more communication,
monitoring and a tightly-controlled program, we'd give it all a month or
two to see," he said.

Fraser Valley Connection Services program coordinator Sam Mohan said it
will be crucial to develop a good relationship with every member of the
business community.

A good location is key to the success of the program, and finding a space,
say at the former army base would not work, since her client base couldn't
necessarily get across town easily, she said.

"The meeting was a well-received process and now I'm just waiting to see
how it all unfolds," Ms. Mohan said. "It's just important that people
understand what the program does. This has been a big learning curve for
me, too."

The 11-year-old harm reduction program has operated successfully in three
different locations in Chilliwack. Fraser Valley Connection Services sees
about 30 to 40 people per day, offering a variety of services including
detox and rehab referral.

The group's lease for the space on Ontario Avenue is up March 31, as a
result of the mall's plans for the development of a new tenant. Members of
the advisory board had to find a new location quickly, Ms. Mohan said.

Ms. Hails said Monday's meeting "opened the lines of communication" and
hopes that promises to address the business community's concerns will be
taken seriously. Customer safety and concerns about discarded needles were
high on the list, she said.

Program officials reminded the crowd that communities with harm reduction
programs have cleaner streets than those without.

RCMP officials made it clear they don't believe the harm reduction program
spells an increase in crime in the area.

"The crime going on now on Alexander is not a result of the needle
exchange," said Staff Sgt. Gerry Falk.