HEROIN CLINIC COULD KICK OUT CHURCH

An independent Christian church could be pushed out of its home of 11
years if council approves plans to open an experimental
prescribed-heroin clinic at the site.

The Revival Centre church, run by pastors Ron and Vera Ward through
donations, is currently housed at 84 West Hastings St. in a building
owned by the Central City Mission Foundation.

Just before Christmas, researchers behind the North American Opiate
Medication Initiative (NAOMI) applied to city hall to move into that
location and start a short-term scientific trial, studying whether
giving addicts free heroin deters criminal activity and improves their
lives.

Ron Ward said he only learned the church might be evicted when study
proponents checked out the location a few weeks ago while a volunteer
was cleaning up. Central City Mission has since offered to rent
another space to the ministry, in the old Suleman's Meat store, but
Ward maintains the narrow building is unsuitable.

The Revival Centre runs church services several evenings a week,
followed by free meals, serving an estimated 2,000 people a month. It
also operates a free clothing bank in the corner site at Abbott and
Hastings, which measures about 2,700 square feet.

"I decided we may not be allowed to stay here, but I'm going to put up
a last fight," said Ward, who's already circulating a petition
opposing the application and has written a letter to the mayor and
council.

Ward and his wife, recovering alcoholics now living in Abbotsford,
took over the Revival Centre from her brother George Ferguson in 1988
after volunteering for several years. Ferguson had opened the centre
with a partner 40 years before, running it from various buildings in
the Downtown Eastside.

Since the church moved into 84 West Hastings more than a decade ago,
Ward, 71, suspects volunteers have put between $40,000 and $50,000
worth of work into the space. He and his 76-year-old wife likely
wouldn't have the energy to do it themselves again, said Ward, who
argues the NAOMI trial would be better located in empty buildings like
the Four Corners Bank or the old Woodward's or Field's
stores-especially since the Revival Centre has been a good neighbour
for years in an area plagued by problems.

Researchers have already been forced to abandon one prospective
location, at 659 East Hastings St., because of opposition.

Jim Boothroyd, spokesman for the NAOMI study, noted the Four Corners
bank building wasn't available until less than two weeks ago, and the
study doesn't have deep enough pockets to renovate a corner of the
Field's store or seal off, secure and provide access to a portion of
Woodward's. "We have $80,000 to $100,000 to do renovations. That
doesn't go a long way and that includes the architect's plan," he
said, adding that layout requirements and security concerns limit
available options.

Boothroyd said residents and tenants have the opportunity to voice
concerns now that the application has been filed and NAOMI
representatives are more than willing to speak with Ward or anyone
else in the neighbourhood.

"So far, we've been very encouraged by the amount of support we've had
from all the organizations representing the community and individuals
and all the neighbours to the site that we've spoken with," he said.
"We're sorry to hear that there seems to be an issue between the
landlord and tenant on this. It's an issue we didn't foresee, but
we've done our level best to consult with the residents in the building."

While Ward is still hoping to influence council's decision, he
believes it will ultimately be up to a higher power. "The attitude we
have is if the Lord will have us here, he'll keep us here."