While I don’t like how the City went about this, I also don’t like the City spending money on lawsuits. Thanks Ms. Green and the rest of you. More money being spent on non-essential services. Great!

Abloo bloo bloo, someone is trying to build something to help people in my neighbourhood! Bawwww!

What a bunch of selfish whiners these people must be, to object to a recovery centre. Who cares about the wellbeing of others, right Haldi residents?

I believe that there should be a place for where people that wants to improve their lot in life. This place should be safe as each one of these valued souls go thru their transition for the better. It should not be confined with in four walls like a institution, they should be able to safely step outside and feel safe doing so.

……. Hey, but not in my neighbourhood!

For those who a bit slow, this is sarcasm.

The intention was to send them to a place were thay are safe from themselfs. Huta Lake is better. Thanks

So who foots the bill for the residence filing the suit. Did they pass the plate around the neighbourhood.

This ought to be interesting. Suddenly only a handful of people is really concerned.

If I was in that neighbourhood, would I want to be labelled as an opposer to helping people who wants to improve themselves.

When Huta comes around with the hat He spoke make sure and donate will ya…

So what kind of people are going to be there. I would assume the system is set up for those who are ready for this change in lifestyle. So would those people really be a problem in the neighbourhood.

Those who are not ready for the change are still going to be going up to the bighouse on the hill.

Too funny Headshake and right on!!! Well said. The Haldi NIMBYs are very selfish and now they are going to cost us taxpayers even more money for this stupid lawsuit.

Ask the residents of the VLA and Millar Addition how well their neighborhoods fared after various social services started to move in.

As I’ve said many times, “Right facility, wrong location.”

Huta, Huta?

Hudta Lake Wellness center. Absolutely,

The original use for this building was an elementary school. These are normally placed in the center of the neighborhood or catchment area, this alone should speak to the fact this is not the right location for a recovery center.

Add to this that the city is going against their own guidelines for zoning and I applaud the residents for stepping up. City hall will continue to run ruff-shod over the residents until someone challenges them. OCPs are put in place for a reason! Those living in the Vance Road area should have tried a similar course of action.

This simply does not pass the smell test with the spiderweb of connections between the proponents of the facility and the recent election.

This is supposed to be a reasonably well planned city.

Had there not been a school in that community because the community was projected not to have a school, it would have likely been the most unlikely location for the rehab facility. There is no single other facility like the one proposed anywhere in the community. The previous one was associated with the hospital.

When that school and others in the city were closed, I did not become aware that the City sat down with the SD57 to come up with a plan of what uses would be approapriate for those facilities. If they did, it does not sound to me like lkike they included the affected neighbourhoods.

I think that is what any reasonable person or organization whose duty it is to plan for the citizen’s of this community should have and would have done.

But hey, what do I know about such things when it comes to due diligence of governing bodies.

As I keep saying, we badly need a BC Municipal Board. It would have been the first court of appeal in such a case and would cost the system less money while providing better governance since it keeps everyone on their toes and give people improved access to euqity.

Well said Gus thank you.

Its a sad day that people have to go to court to prove that something is not done right. Good on Haldi who know next it would be your neighbourhood.

I agree that this is a worthwhile project. I sympathize with haldi road residents because they are having this crammed down their throats. This is another example of how government always appears to care about their own agendas, or the money from taxpayers, or their lobbyists friends etc rather than working with citizens of their city.

It will be pretty hard to attract business and tourists and new residents when you have reported #1 crime in Canada per capita, recent history of struggling forestry sector, higher than average pollution, poor infrastructure and poorly coordinated/managed city operations, and an eyesore that we call downtown. To boot, let’s ignore the will of our residents and instead of engaging them proactively, let’s be divisive and get them riled up.

Have fun new mayor.

mythoughts says…

“Too funny Headshake and right on!!! Well said. The Haldi NIMBYs are very selfish and now they are going to cost us taxpayers even more money for this stupid lawsuit”

If you don’t live there then you have no right calling these people down for what they are fighting for. Nowhere have they said they are against helping anyone. Those are your words. They are fighting for their rights. Where do you live? Maybe we can setup something beside your house or in your neighbourhood that you don’t want there. Then you could fight against it. But OMG! that would make you a hypocritical NIMBY wouldn’t it? You people attacking those fighting against this project being set up in their neighbourhoods need to grow up!

If all that matters to you is that this lawsuit is going to cost the taxpayers some money then I suggest you are the ones with the problems not those fighting for their rights.

Okay a few things need to be said:

Hudta Lake (I believe) is harm-reduction and Haldi is abstinence. Different models. I think we have enough women seeking support to have both centres and it gives the women choices.

This is so a case of NIMBY! There are social housing all over PG (Half way houses, youth group homes, mental health homes, etc) and their neighbours are not freaking out about some perceived problems.

Think of how much good all that money these ‘well to do’ residence of Hadli could do if put towards those who go without or are in need!

How about Phoenix Women’s shelter…opps! This support women in recovery. Don’t want to help them!

it seems to me that this is about principles and not the center at this point. The city seems to feel they can do whatever they want with no repercussions.. if the elected officials followed the rules and listen to the voters who’s taxes pay their cheques this never would have gotten to this point. I get the help the underdog bit, but what about the hard working tax payers who have chosen a way of life and it is being taken from them with no say on their part. I am sure this isn’t the only neighborhood unhappy with the city but it seems to be the only one willing to put their money where their mouth is. good on you haldi residents!

None of this BS happens by accident. The School was purchased from the School Board, and then sold for this centre. The work started on the centre long before they had the appropriate permits to do so.

They tried to ram this centre through despite the objection of the people in the area.

You better have a close look at who wants this centre built, why they want it built, and who will run it. This is a thinly disquised Government program to reduce costs.

They could have and should have located this centre in the old Nechako Treatment Centre at the hospital. Why didnt they. The simple answer is because they can run this facility on Haldi road by a charitiable society, funded by donations, and with some funding from the Provincial Government, Much cheaper than a Government run facility such as the Nechako Treatment Centre. The Nechako Centre was closed for a reason. Find out the real reason for the closure and you will be much closer to the truth on this situation.

The people of Haldi Road are right to take the City to court. The City in conjuction with the people running the centre have tried to pull the wool over thier eyes.

Its too bad that we have to take our own elected people to court because they refuse to listen to the average citizen. Seems they spend most of their time kissing up to the vested interest groups.

This is not about a great need for a facility for women, or they would have kept the one they already had. This is about reducing costs, and working with their friends.

I support the Haldi Road people 100% and will also give them some monetary support.
We cannot change anything in this town if we continue to let the minority take advantage of the majority. This is our town, this is our tax dollars, and last but not least the Mayor, Council, City Staff, Police, and Fire Department work for us.

Somewhere along the line people have lost site of the fact that its the citizens of a city that pay all the bills. This gives them the right to complain if they disagree with what the City does.

Well Dragonmaster…I’ve said this many times before but for your benefit, I will say it again. My brother was given back to me because of a recovery centre just like this one. He lived on the streets and on drugs and alcohol most of his life until our family got him into a recovery centre which just happens to be right smack in the middle of a residential neighbourhood with many families. Until it affects your family, you will never know how important it was for him to be in the recovery centre in a nice subdivision with real people & real families around him and not stuck out in the middle of nowhere. And btw, until recently, I lived on Queensway a block away from the Friendship Centre. I only moved away because of my job. I lived there when the neighbours were also fighting against the Friendship Centre from being built and I would not sign their petition to try and stop it. It’s important for these centres and their residents to be with normal people who can show them what a normal life is really like. Whatever happen to love thy neighbour. People are becoming more & more selfish and only concerned about themselves and the hell with everyone else. I feel sorry for you and any others who chose to live like that. I chose not to.

He spoke – get yourself educated on the subject then maybe somebody may listen to you. Read what is being said…first I challenge you to go to every home in the Haldi Road Neighbourhood and see what you get with the 60 homes. Go to every house and get them to sign a petition againsts the Haldi Road NIMBYs. Double dare you..

You see, you spout off, but you appear to be one of the ones that will not do anything to fight for what you believe in.

Kuddos to the people of the Haldi Road area for standing up to what you believe in. The people in the area that could not afford the monetary funds but apparently backed you anyways. And also, kuddos to those that could afford to – 40 homes. Only you know the decisisions you have made and stand proud.

By the way “He spoke” these home numbers were from the media – CKPG to be exact.

Get your facts straight – it does not look good for you nor the centre.

Becca – “Think of how much good all that money these ‘well to do’ residence of Hadli could do if put towards those who go without or are in need!”

Like others have said. You do not know these people and I doubt if you have actually driven around to look at the houses or meet many of the people. If you look at some of the properties in the area – if you need help look in the website for the property assements of BC.

These places run from $120,000 to $500,000. Have yet to search for the doctor’s house out there. but you can be assured they are not all “well to do”

I believe it is still the right of the individual to donate to whomever and whatever organization they wish………..so how do you know about these people? You don’t. How do you know who they help and don’t.

I have lived in this city for many years and remember the various things the people in that neighbourhood helped. Including the articles in the papers years ago on how they fixed the old school, donated to charities and families. So unless you have facts…..

I made an error – the numbers were from a segment of the news that was aired on CKPG. Looked at it again and they interviewed a resident from the Haldi Road neighbourhood.

I think the people at risk should have a place to go but they have to prove a desire to quit their bad habits and make an honest effort to rhab themselves.

At the same time, it is correct for the citizens of Haldi to take the city to court over this apparent dishonest way of getting it pushed through council without informing them. Shari, you have all ready lost my vote for the next election. This “you can’t fight city hall” has to come to an end somewhere.

Kudos to the Haldi Rd. people. This whole thing was wrong from the start. Give the Haldi Rd people their choice! Wrong hood for a rehab center!

When a City can go into a neighbourhood and act against the wishes of the neighbourhood then we are on a downhill slide.

This was done twice in 2011. Once in the Range Road area and once in the Haldi Road area.

This is not an accident. This is with the full force of intent. This undermines every residential neighbourhood in this city. It makes a mockery of public rezoning hearings.

If the City felt that the people in the neighbourhood were not properly educated in what the centre was doing and that such centres are best located in the very centre of a neighbourhood, and in a rural neighbourhood on top of that, then the City should have stopped the process at second hearing and worked with the proponent to educate the neighbourhood residents. One does not ride roughshod over well meaning people who are concerned about the lifestyle they have chosen. These people have rights as well as those who wish to have the best place to go to in order to get help to fight their addictions.

Thois is not a you or me case. This is a you and me case. It is the City’s duty to satisfy both parties. If they don’t, they have failed in their duty.

Guesswhat…I live in near neighbourhood and have for over 20 years.

Many of those heading this anti-recovery are ‘well to do’. Here nor there, this centre is coming to PG and will be welcomed as a means to positive change not only to the women but for their children, siblings, parents, etc.

Sometimes our City has to do what is right for the majority and not popular to those few who are short sighted.

Mayor Green and company are sure off to a flying start, aren’t they..In the first month it’s nothing but cost, cost and more cost to the poor tax payers of Prince George. I knew there was a reason for the pointing up arrows on Ms. Green’s campaign signs. So far, it’s 5% tax increase on utilities for the next four or five years. A $250.000 core review of staff at City Hall only. Now a lawsuit which will cost thousands more.

Becca … please do not call people in this community who do not think as you do, short sighted just because neither the project propnents and the city are short sighted. ;-)

This is not likely the last such facility. If it is so important for such facilities to be part of a residential neighbourhood, how well do you think those who are in the faility will feel with the great welcome they will receive there? It is the responsibility of the proponents to make sure that they have the right site to give its clients the proper environment.

Addiction recovery centres are not exactly new.

An internet search will locate many. Here are three

– Paradise Valley Wellness Centre is nestled on a peaceful 10 acre property set on the banks of the Cheakamus River only an hour drive north of Vancouver, BC. right off the main highway on the way to Whistler.
http://www.paradisevalleywellnesscentre.com/?gclid=CNmq78myk60CFQh9hwodNR_pnQ

– Sunshine Coast Health Center, located on a seven acre oceanfront campus, in Powell Rive, immediately adjacent to the main highway http://www.sunshinecoasthealthcentre.ca/gallery-campus.html

– The century old three story home is located on 1 ½ acres in Thamesville , Ontario. The character of the building and the beauty of the countryside contribute to the holistic treatment atmosphere. http://www.westover-fdn.org

Why one would want to locate one in a concrete block, single storey, flat roofed school building in the middel of a rural subdivision with the nearest water surface being large sewage lagoons is beyond me.

We have some wonderful river front properties within the City limits; properties with a view of the cvalley and the Rockies in the distance; other waterfront properties in the outdoors of the north close to nature and within 20 minutes of the city.

What are these people thinking? I know, it should not be any of our business. BUT, they way they have gone about it, they have made it our businsess.

the issue here is location. residential and rural residential are 2 different things and the cities belief that they can do whatever they want and voters will forget…hopefully this will change and city hall may now think twice before doing what their bosses clearly don’t want. The Haldi community is no better off than many neighborhoods in town they are just passionate about their cause and want their legal rights upheld. They are not bad people just unhappy taxpayers who are doing more than complaining about what they feel is wrong.