DRUG AND ALCOHOL REHAB WILL SHARE BUILDING WITH BAR

A new treatment centre for recovering alcoholics and drug users will
be located in the same building as a soon-to-open downtown bar.

Earlier this week, St. Raphael Centre told the Free Press about its
plans to expand into a day treatment facility for addicts at 456 Main
St.

But on Friday, club owner Sabino Tummillo revealed he is turning the
main floor of 456 Main St. into Pearl Nightclub and Ultralounge -- a
night spot for the 25 and older crowd.

St. Raphael Centre executive director Josie D'Andrea confirmed the
non-profit charity knew about the bar beforehand, but said it won't
pose any danger to the addicts who need help.

"An addict walks past a liquor store every day, goes into a restaurant
every day that serves liquor ...it's all around them," D'Andrea said
on Friday.

D'Andrea said the St. Raphael Centre board considered whether the bar
would be a problem for the addicts before moving into the second floor
of the Main Street location. The day treatment program will be fully
operational by September.

Pearl Nightclub and Ultraloungue is expected to open in late
July.

St. Raphael Centre is modelled after Vitanova, a similar addiction
treatment centre in Toronto. It will offer addiction recovery services
tailored uniquely to individuals age 18 to 35 with help from
psychiatrists, doctors, nurse practitioners, and mental health counselors.

The registered charity has been operating for 12 years in St.
Boniface, offering ongoing counselling and support for addicts who
have already visited a treatment centre.

D'Andrea said a decision was made to go ahead with a temporary
location at 456 Main St. until the centre expands into a full
residential treatment centre at a larger location by June 2008 at the
latest.

She said board members knew the building's owner, who agreed to a low
price and flexible lease.

D'Andrea said since the treatment centre will not be open at the same
time as the nightclub, there won't be any conflict. St. Raphael Centre
will close at 3:30 p.m. on Fridays and re-open Monday at 9 a.m. She
said Pearl Nightclub and Ultralounge will be open Friday and Saturday
nights only.

"Had it been we were moving into this location for five years, then
no, it wouldn't have been something we would enter into," D'Andrea
said.

"I knew it would come up and that's why when I looked at this we
looked at all the factors. For the short period of time I do not see a
problem."

Laura Goossen, director of Winnipeg region for the Addiction
Foundation of Manitoba, said St. Raphael Centre will be the only
treatment facility she is aware of that is located in the same
building as a drinking establishment.

However, she said that most other addiction treatment centres have
bars within walking distance. Although being in the same location as a
bar might present some extra challenges to St. Raphael Centre, Goossen
said it's a reality that alcohol is readily available everywhere in
Winnipeg and rural Manitoba.

While some people might argue being so close to a bar could be a
trigger for some addicts, Goossen said it might help them to better
learn mechanisms to cope with alcohol.

"It would be pretty hard to be in a neighbourhood where you wouldn't
be exposed to that," she said.

University of Manitoba ethicist Arthur Schaeffer said the location
shouldn't raise any concerns since the addicts won't be in the
building when the bar is open. Schaeffer said the Main Street location
is also easily accessible for many people struggling with addiction in
the downtown area.

"It's impossible to keep temptation away from them," he said. "But
perhaps I'm being insensitive."