RECOVERY CENTRE BYPASSES ASHCROFT

Ashcroft didn't show enough enthusiasm for a proposed recovery
community for addicts, but Prince George seems to really want it, the
MLA promoting the idea said Wednesday.

Vancouver-Burrard MLA Lorne Mayencourt said his tour seeking support
for an addictions recovery community based on an Italian model is
getting a much better reception up north.

So instead of the Ashcroft Ranch being home to the trial site for
long-term recovery, it will probably be a former army barracks near
Prince George, he said.

"We needed the mayor to champion it," Mayencourt said of his attempt
to get Ashcroft on board in spring.

"(Prince George Mayor) Colin Kinsley is really supportive of this. He
knows it's good for the community."

Ashcroft Mayor Andy Anderson agreed -- he wasn't brimming with
enthusiasm to see the addictions community established at the ranch.

"Ashcroft really didn't champion the idea and I guess what made it not
work out, is he made the announcement without talking to anybody," he
said.

Neither he nor Ashcroft council were consulted before Mayencourt
started throwing out the possibility of the ranch being a location for
the community, Anderson said.

"The next thing you know it's in the news. . . . He didn't start out
on the right foot."

Anderson said he and council weren't alone. The ranch manager felt the
project would create other problems out there, and the community
itself wasn't on side either.

"The concept is probably a pretty good concept, we don't have a
problem with that. The community didn't see that. The next thing you
know you have pushers in your community because they don't want to be
there (at the ranch)."

He said he'll be watching to see how Mayencourt's project -- named New
Hope -- in Prince George turns out.

Mayencourt was enthusiastic about the possibility his dream of a
Canadian version of San Patrignano could be up and running in a year.

"I'm going to focus on that for right now. And if people in Ashcroft
later are interested, I'd be happy to get involved," he said.

"The local community, the people who live in Prince George, like the
idea. It fits in nicely with UNBC's medical program. And they see it
as an opportunity for helping people in their region."

His next step is to hold a round table with community stakeholders in
the fall. If that's positive, a business plan will be completed by
Nov. 15.

Besides community support, Mayencourt said the other appeal of the
Prince George location is that the former barracks already has
buildings and infrastructure like sewage treatment in place.

The Ashcroft Ranch, on the other hand, needs all of that. But he was
still willing to keep it in consideration for the future.

"I wouldn't want to take it off the list. I think the Ashcroft Ranch
is a spectacular setting for something like this."

Mayencourt wants to start New Hope with about 100 people, and
eventually create a series of addictions communities with as many as
500. They learn trades and skills and stay for three to five years at
the Italian community.

"We want to help anybody who's motivated to do a recovery program, we
want to help if we can," he said.

"We know the model we use now is largely unsuccessful. People can't
get their lives fixed in 28 days. They need a support system around
them. That's what the San Patrignano model offers."