NEW RECOVERY CENTRE AIMS TO HELP ADDICTS

Michael Wilson looked fit to bust as he presided over last week's
public unveiling of the Phoenix Society's new recovery centre in Whalley.

Wilson is the society's executive director and has worked like a
Trojan guiding the project to completion.

Located on 94A Avenue, just behind Surrey Memorial Hospital, the
Phoenix Centre is a comfortable, well-appointed 4,140-square-metre
(46,000-square-foot) building offering a full range of services to
those with addictions and mental illness.

The centre includes 28 recovery beds and 36 transitional housing
units. Along with a full range of addiction services, Phoenix offers
education upgrading in partnership with Kwantlen University College,
job search skills training, a set of programs designed to help clients
create a more positive place in society for themselves and many other
services.

Built at a cost of $10.9 million, completing the Phoenix Centre was a
joint effort by all levels of government, private industry and
non-profit organizations.

Ottawa kicked in $5.5 million, Victoria another $2.4 million and the
VanCity Foundation put up $1 million. Business and non-profits
contributed the rest of the capital with the society carrying a
$475,000 mortgage.

"This centre represents a collaborative community approach to
addiction issues," Wilson told a crowd of about 250 gathered at the
centre Friday.

"One of the strongest messages of the Phoenix Centre is that
relationships matter."

Premier Gordon Campbell told the crowd the Phoenix approach is exactly
what his government was looking for.

"There is not one answer, there is not one problem," Campbell
said.

The premier said the Phoenix Society has an "exemplary" record of
providing effective services for nearly 20 years and held it up as a
model of success.

He praised the courage of those who recognize they have a problem and
decide to do something and said his government "wants to take the trip
with them."

"We want them to know their success is our success."

Fleetwood-Port Kells MP Nina Grewal also praised the centre, as did
Surrey Coun. Mary Martin, who stood in for Mayor Dianne Watts.

Martin said drug rehabilitation is a key part of Surrey's crime
reduction strategy.

"The Phoenix Centre will play a key part in Surrey's social
infrastructure for year to come," Martin said.