This is great news for Prince George.

Added to the agenda at the last minute???

More like a planned addition to ensure that there was not a lot of people at the meeting to see what was going on.

The Haldi Road residents are now going to take the City to court, so that should be an interesting development.

This is another case of doing whatever the hell they please and ignoring what the people themselves want. This centre could very easily have been put in the Huda Lake facility, however that was not in the **master plan**

Perhaps after the dust settles, they will put another facility in Huda Lake. Thats the rumour in any event.

Excellent news for Prince George and the women of BC who suffer from addiction. There will now be another place for them to seek recovery and become productive members of society.
And of course the Haldi residents are taking legal action, now I wonder what their reasoning is behind it? Instead of using that money to insure marginalized women stay marginalized, put it towards something that will benefit these women.

Well, I guess the saga continues…..At least Shari Green kept her word and stayed out of it. Why did the others (council members old and new) that were helped by the same person not come forward and follow the mayor’s lead? Still no transperancy. Shame on the city administration, the council and the people involved with the recovery centre for trying to slide this through the way they did. I hope the people of Haldi Road fight the rezoning in court and win. It looks like the city didn’t want to see the people of Haldi Road in numbers again. Nothing has changed…..

concernedinpg – my, my. I guess you were not there at various occasions when Marshall Smith stated that the centre was for women that were clean……….he has said on numerous occasions in public, the newspapers,radio and even at the city council meetings. The women are not to be on any drugs etc., they are to be clean before they attend the centre. So what is it?

You can’t send a bunch of at risk women out to Hulda Lake for the winter. Haldi road is far enough and the centre is a good plan. If it doesn’t work out, that means the government got involved.

I have heard enough of this issue. PEOPLE!! Open your eyes!! Women are dying in our community. We NEED to have this centre. Shae on Murrey Krouse who should never have voted as he is in a conflict. Shame on Brian Skakun for trying to manipulate the Haldi People for money. Shame on Lynn Hall for not helping women in need in our community. Shame on the HUTDA LAKE people for manipulating the Haldi residents behind the scenes.

We can’t get enough funding for senior citizens BUT get addicted to drugs all the bleeding hearts come out. So when I get a few years older I am going on crack because there is plenty money in our system for these folks.

supertech – Why can one not send a “bunch of women at risk” out to Hutda Lake for the winter? Equality is what women want. Do not discriminate – it is not becoming :)

Letsgetalong – I think you need help on your anger issues. Capital letters is shouting……….

How did Brian manipulate the Haldi Road People for money? It is my understanding by what was in the media he emailed everyone that he had an email for. Did all the people in Haldi Road area get an email? Do you know that as a fact?

Did you actually hear for yourself what Lynn Hall said in the council chambers? If you did, you left out a lot of important information.

And for Hutda Lake People what manipulation did the Haldi Residents get behind the scenes? Looks like bias and unfounded accusations so for.

Just my opinion :)

Again, as adressed above to concernedinpg, perhaps you can clarify whether or not the women are to be clean before they attend the program according to the manager of the centre they are suppost to be. So what is it?

There’s been so much support for this but for all the wrong reasons.

I do believe we need this but NOT in a residential neighborhood. This (like it or not) is going to attract some very unwelcome or unsavory individuals to that area.

There are other areas much more suited for something like this, areas more remote which will hamper the undesirables involvement in the process of healing.

It’s pretty easy to find out just where the councilors live and if you care to look into it you will see that none of them are living in the backyard of the proposed treatment center.

It’s time the *new* council takes a stand and puts a stop to this mess, after all they are supposed to represent us the taxpayers, but I’ll leave that for a council “reform” discussion.

Fill your pockets up again people cause here comes another one…..various level of government. Was the public originally not informed by these people that it was to be publically funded? Hmmm will have to research that one a little more….

According to project Manager Marshall Smith as quoted in HQ PRince George written by By Jeff Sargeant:

“We’re going to spend the next several months raising funds and making applicaitons to various levels of government to ensure that we have the things in place to bring this project to fruition,” said Smith.

So now I am confused – must be getting late. Was to be publically funded and the women were to be clean?……….

guesswhat – Its my understanding anybody attending any abstinence based treatment facility must be clean of any mind or mood altering substances before attending. That said, being clean for 2 weeks does not mean that an individual is free of addiction. During the time spent in a treatment facility a person learns better coping skills without the need to turn to substances to deal with life on lifes terms.There are people that have spent decades clean, living productive lives, but still understand that they are addicts that suffer from addiction, which is a disease.
I myself have been clean for 5 years from any mind or mood altering substances, but yet I suffer from addiction and I am still an addict, and I am a productive member of society.

guesswhat – Its my understanding anybody attending any abstinence based treatment facility must be clean of any mind or mood altering substances before attending. That said, being clean for 2 weeks does not mean that an individual is free of addiction. During the time spent in a treatment facility a person learns better coping skills without the need to turn to substances to deal with life on lifes terms.There are people that have spent decades clean, living productive lives, but still understand that they are addicts that suffer from addiction, which is a disease.
I myself have been clean for 5 years from any mind or mood altering substances, but yet I suffer from addiction and I am still an addict, and I am a productive member of society.

@concernedinpg

Sorry to burst your bubble but addiction is NOT a disease despite what pop culture has to say. Addiction is something that people bring upon themselves.

Addiction is “invited” I absolutely hate seeing addiction being touted as a disease. I know a few people with a legit “disease” ie: cancer. This was due to outside circumstances it had nothing to do with a decision to use or not use.

well at least we are talking about the real issues now. So much for the lack of water.

justanotherguy – my mother used to say the same thing…..she is an alcoholic.

Total denial

The American Academy of Pain Medicine, the American Pain Society, and the American Society of Addiction Medicine jointly issued the following definition of addiction:

“Addiction is a primary, chronic, neurobiologic DISEASE, with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations.

“It is characterized by behaviors that include one or more of the following:
1. impaired control over drug use,
2. compulsive use,
3. continued use despite harm, and
4. craving.

“Physical dependence is a state of being that is manifested by a drug class specific withdrawal syndrome that can be produced by
1. abrupt cessation,
2. rapid dose reduction,
3. decreasing blood level of the drug, and/or
4. administration of an antagonist.

“Tolerance is the body’s physical adaptation to a drug: greater amounts of the drug are required over time to achieve the initial effect as the body “gets used to” and adapts to the intake.”
———————————–

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders states:

“When an individual persists in use of alcohol or other drugs despite problems related to use of the substance, substance dependence may be diagnosed.

“Compulsive and repetitive use may result in tolerance to the effect of the drug and withdrawal symptoms when use is reduced or stopped.

“This, along with Substance abuse are considered Substance Use Disorders”
—————————————-

There are various treatment regimes in the industrialized world. The rate of “recovery” depends entirely on the objectives set to determine what recovery means. Many feel there is no such thing as true recovery; there are simply various coping mechanisms which allow people to function reasonably well in society.
————————————–

With such a spectrum of understanding of what happens behind the closed door of a “clinic”, “recovery centre”, “hospital”, etc. is it any wonder why a neighbourhood reacts the way it does?

A city has a duty to protect its citizens. ALL of them. Yes, they have to provide for such “recovery centres”. Yes, they have to ensure the “comfort” and sense of security of those living in a neighbourhood.

In my opinion, our city has failed to provide both. Great that we have a recovery centre proposed to happen. But, it is in the wrong place. When one looks at there they are in other cities, they are not in the centre of a residential neighbourhood.

I have not even heard that the City has directed planning to prepare recommendations of guidelines to be applied when such a request in rezoning should happen again, which it quite likely will.

For instance, if I were to provide such a program in a 5 bedroom home, would that be classified as a home business?

Right project, wrong location.

Concernedinpg are you Marshall Smith? The way you write is almost indicative of…and the statement “I myself have been clean for 5 years from any mind or mood altering substances”

justanotherguy- You should get your facts straight about MOST disease in Canada. Guess what it is preventable. People bring it on themselves. Don’t want cancer, heart disease or diabetes (basically the top three killers in Canada) well then eat lots of fruit and vegetables, some meat and nuts and not much else, exercise with intensity daily and control your stress. Oh and stop smoking. Obesity is considered a disease that requires treatment, don’t want to be fat… exercise more and eat less, most people will respond quite well. Those that don’t need their thyriod checked. Like it or not addiction is a disease (incidentally they have traced it to an abberant gene, they don’t have a protien that is important in the reward cascade system and have diffculty getting satisfaction from less damaging methods). At least with proper treatment these people can get stop draining public reasources and contribute again.

Please forgive the grammatical errors in my previous post, I wrote it in stages and didn’t re-read it before I posted.

I totally support a recovery centre. Let’s get them cleaned up so they can live to the age of 65 and then die because they can not afford the drugs to live. Or God forbid starve to death. The recovery centres may as well get some cash out of the tax payers while they can. Because to all 35 year old hard working Canadians, move your cash out of Canada to a foreign country for your retirement and retire were your money goes till you die. Then send my corpse home and let Canada pay to dispose of it for my years of hard work.

It’s because of people like this that takes your retirement money and put it into drugs alright, but not for your drugs as a senior citizen. I am pissed all the years of my work and I have to support some self induced addicted person who made bad choices in his or her life. BOO HOO. You get addicted you pay to get yourself out of the mess. My father would have put a bullet in your hand gun if you intended on hurting yourself.

Monday December 12, 2011 – 10:31 PM
By Jeff Sargeant
Prince George, B.C.
Prince George council has given final approval for the re-zoning of the former Haldi Elementary school which is set to become home to the Northern Supportive Recovery Centre for Women.
Fourth and final reading for the re-zoning saw council vote 5-3 in favour with councillors Skakun, Krause, and Hall voting against while mayor Shari Green excused herself from the discussion due to potential conflicts of interest.
Project Manager Marshall Smith says there’s still plenty of work ahead until the Centre can become a reality.
“We’re going to spend the next several months raising funds and making applicaitons to various levels of government to ensure that we have the things in place to bring this project to fruition,” said Smith.
Smith says there is an on-going dialogue with residents near the Haldi road site, except for a select group of homeowners who are considering legal action against the City.

Funny how the project Manager Marshall Smith can turn things around. It appears in his statement noted above that there is on-going dialogue with residents near the Haldi Road site, “except for a select group of homeowners who are condidering legal action against the City” So is it to say that now the people are for this centre are now 96% for it and the “select group of homeowners who are considering legal action against the City” are the other 4% now? Must be political talking here. Not that these figures were given but tell me how within a few months it has changed, on-going dialogue has been happening? If it has been happening has Marshall Smith been in contact with the Haldi Road Group against it? I think not.

According to previous media outlets statements there were figures thrown around with 96% against and 4% for the centre – give or take a % or two.

Gus – to your question: “For instance, if I were to provide such a program in a 5 bedroom home, would that be classified as a home business?” yes you can as they have now set a precidece on zoning and if I am correct the City and all the proponents for the centre said at the first meeting that no neighbourhood is safe…

Amazing how someone can manipulate words – oh I forgot – someone was on Shari Green’s campaign and assisted a few other running candidates as well – according to Sherri Green……..

Why are the covenant coverages not on the City website? oh,it was handed in at the 11th hour. I feel sorry for the parts of the new council as their credibility is now flawed due to the process of the City – does not look good on them. Do the Haldi Road people know that the City Bylaw enforcment cannot guarantee they can monitor the covenants as they are short manpower? It will be up to the citizens in that area to take it to court to make sure they are. Will be interesting on how this all unfolds.

justanotherguy – I did some research and apparently Koehler did live in the area about 9 years ago – was told by a few people he moved due to the noise of the dogs in the area…..Guess the Bylaw cannot enforce its own laws……….

MARSHALL SMITH: ‘FREE AND CLEAR OF ALCOHOL + DRUGS FOR TWO YEARS’: Premier Campbell’s former aide is now director of Prince George Addiction Treatment Centre

June 22, 2009Leave a Comment

RISING B. C. POLITICAL STAR’S LIFE SHATTERED BY DRUG ADDICTION

One-time aide to the premier became a homeless hustler on Victoria streets

He was one of the legislature’s brightest young political staffers during Premier Gordon Campbell’s first term in office: smart, popular, good-looking, a sharp dresser and a sharp talker, Marshall Smith seemed to have it all.

Cruising the corridors of power with an easy confidence that belied his 28 years, he’d whisper advice to cabinet ministers one minute, spin a scrum of reporters the next, then crack up his fellow Liberal insiders with an always-ready joke.

“The minister of social planning,” they nicknamed him, because Smith was the guy who organized all the after-work parties. In any number of bars near Government Street in Victoria, you’d find the ministerial aide whooping it up long after the legislature had shut for the night.

“I was on top of the world and having a blast,” he recalls now, even travelling to Prague with Campbell for the announcement of Vancouver’s winning Olympic bid. He was introduced to Henry Kissinger and hobnobbed with Olympic glitterati.

Then it all came crashing down, starting one fateful night in 2004.

“I was in a bar and someone offered me a line of cocaine,” said Smith, now 36. ”I did it, I liked it and I wanted more. But it was the beginning of the end.”

He had managed a serious drinking problem for years, but the cocaine was different. Its grip was instantaneous and relentless. It soon led to an even more vicious drug: crystal methamphetamine.

“I was hooked and couldn’t stop,” he said. ”It was too powerful and I wasn’t interested in getting help, only in getting drugs.”

Quickly enslaved to a $2,000-a-week habit of cocaine, meth and booze, his once promising career unravelled rapidly. He was fired, lost his apartment when the rent money ran out, lost the many friends who couldn’t believe his sudden and shocking transformation.

One night, he slung a knapsack over his shoulder and drifted through the streets of Victoria in a drug-induced haze, snorting coke and smoking meth all night, ending up sprawled in a doorway as the garbage trucks rolled by. It was his first night as a homeless addict – a cycle that would go on for the next three years.

From 2004 to 2007, the one-time rising star of government became a sketchy street-level hustler, dealing drugs to get the money to feed his habit, sleeping in Vancouver parks and alleys, and playing cat-and-mouse with police who knew all about his former life in the loftiest circles of political power.

He lost count of how many times he was arrested, eventually doing two stretches in jail for trafficking. He got mixed up in the most dangerous side of the drug world and several times feared for his life.

“I passed out in a house one night and four guys burst in with crowbars to rob the place,” he said. ”They broke my knee, cheek and hand. One guy jammed a crowbar right through my foot and into the hardwood floor. I barely managed to pull it out and I went running down the street at 5 a. m., bleeding on a broken knee.”

He was free on bail at the time. Picked up by the police again, the incident led to his first drug conviction and a seven-month stretch in Victoria’s Wilkinson Road jail, where another former iteration of his life ironically circled back on him.

Before he got into government work, Smith pursued a career in law enforcement. He studied criminal forensic science at the B. C. Institute of Technology and worked for several years as a prison guard, including at Wilkinson Road.

“Now the guards I used to work with were guarding me,” he said. ”And the prisoners I used to guard were my fellow inmates.”

Some of the more hard-core prisoners didn’t take kindly to a former “hack” suddenly appearing on their side of the bars. One of them broke his jaw. But even that didn’t shock Smith out of his ruinous cravings.

“When I got out, I went straight back to the street, right back to using and dealing,” he said. ”I lived for six months in a steel shipping container under the Granville Street bridge. Dropped down to 125 pounds. Some people reached out, but I was beyond help.”

Those people included his well-to-do parents, who worked in the B. C. film-production business and provided what Smith calls a loving, stable upbringing in an upper-class Victoria neighbourhood and a private-school education.

“They tried, but I told them not to try. I felt guilty and ashamed and didn’t want to see them. I saw everything on the street when it comes to family: from people with no family at all, to parents putting themselves in danger trying to rescue their kids. In my case, I told my parents to stay away.”

He said the lowest moment came during a botched robbery in a Vancouver apartment.

“These guys came in and I had something they wanted. One held a shotgun to my head. That was the bottom for me. I thought, ‘I can’t live this life anymore.’”

Smith entered rehab in 2007. Free and clear of drugs and alcohol for two years, he accepted a post as director of a Prince George rehab centre.

“I lost many wonderful friends and fantastic people in my life,” he said. ”Hopefully, I can one day earn their respect again.”

P.OED – With all that said, why was there a problem at Baldy Hughes over Smith? Agreed to disagree? There was also rumours that there was to be an investigation on his actions at that centre was there not?

Does this man have a criminal record?

July 2, 2004
CKNW legislative reporter Sean Leslie has just filed a story reporting that provincial ministerial assistant Marshall Smith, 32, was arrested yesterday by Victoria police in the so-called Red Zone, an area frequented by drug dealers and prostitutes. The charge: possession for the purpose of trafficking. Police allege he was found with a saleable amount of crystal meth, a scale, a wad of cash and a radio scanner. Public Eye has learned Mr. Smith, who previously worked for former Community Aboriginal and Women’s Services Minister Ted Nebbeling and former Minister of State for Immigration and Multicultural Services Gulzar Cheema, has been on a leave of absence since June 8 to seek treatment for a substance abuse problem.

We also know Mr. Smith’s uncle is Tourism Victoria’s chief executive officer Lorne Whyte. His parents, one of whom works in the Los Angeles film industry, are divorced. And he is related to ex-Toronto-Danforth Liberal MP Dennis Mills. Mr. Mills was recently unseated by New Democrat leader Jack Layton. Acquaintances say Mr. Smith, who was the first openly gay corrections officer in the province, reportedly became involved in politics after campaigning for Vancouver-Burrard MLA Lorne Mayencourt in the last provincial election. The acquaintances add that he is a regular at Prism (a local gay nightclub) and has lost a substantial amount of weight over the past year.

After being arrested, he was held in custody overnight but was released pending a court appearance next Friday. Crown attorney Michael Mark is prosecuting the case. Mr. Smith has been suspended without pay.

By Sean Holman | Posted in Provincial | Comments (2)