DETOX CENTRE AS NEIGHBOUR CHANCE FOR CHRISTIAN CHARITY

The Saskatoon Christian School's opposition to building a youth detox
centre in the neighbourhood has me baffled.

Our province and community recognize the need to focus on recovery
from addiction for our children and our neighbours' children --
addictions do not discriminate.

My understanding of active Christian living is to love our neighbours
as ourselves. Jesus reached out especially to the broken,
marginalized, ostracized and those in need of support and help. I
would expect the school to extend offers of prayers and welcome, and
ongoing acts of kindness and assistance to those at the detox centre.

Parents may be afraid their children are vulnerable and should not be
exposed. But what an opportunity it is for these children and the
adults in charge of their growth to learn about addiction, of true
commitment, hope and caring.

To respond in fear speaks of a lack of faith and a "not in my back
yard" mentality. Christianity is not just for the privileged and protected.

Just as I trust that the Saskatoon Christian School provides
appropriate adult supervision to its students, it can trust that the
detox centre will provide professional safeguards to its clients,
such as adequate supervision, drug screens, selective visitor lists
and safely guarded rules.

This recovery center must have adequate programming and staffing so
that its clients and the community are kept safe. Certainly, this is
not where drug dealers will go to look for customers, just as the
current facility, the Calder Center, does not create a risk for that
neighbourhood.

There is no doubt that this center is needed in our community, and I
earnestly hope that our community will offer many ways to display
respect and support.

J. I. Stephens

Saskatoon