Peter Ewart

There is no doubt that there is a pressing need for an addictions recovery centre for women in the Prince George region. However, the establishment of such a centre should be the result of a step-wise, carefully planned process.

Such a process would preferably begin with a gathering together of all the local practitioners and experts in the agencies that deal with women and addictions, especially those with long experience in the region, along with input from women who need treatment or have been through similar programs elsewhere.

Next, an overall needs assessment that provides the basis for a coherent plan for the city and region. Following this, the development of a business plan and securing of funding sources.

Then, after establishing a solid foundation based on research, investigation and consultation, the proponents of a recovery centre would consider multiple sites in the region and conduct associated due diligence, including whether such a centre complies with existing zoning regulations, whether water, road and sewage infrastructure is in place, and so on.

A crucial step in all of this is a close consultation with and buy-in from nearby residents and neighborhoods.

After all of these steps (some of which may overlap), a final decision could be made on a site, and the rental or purchase of the appropriate property carried out.

Unfortunately, the ill-fated Northern Supportive Recovery Centre for Women, which was to be established in the Haldi Road neighborhood did not follow the steps of a logical, coherent process.

Instead of bringing people together, the Recovery Centre project got off on the wrong foot by failing to work with another community group (of longstanding practitioners in the addictions field) who had been working on a similar project for some time.

Then the project site at the Haldi Road location was prematurely announced, despite existing zoning prohibitions; lack of proper needs assessment, secured funding, and a coherent business plan; and lack of proper due diligence on basic infrastructure such as water, sewage and roads. Coming out of all of this, opposition developed amongst many residents in the neighborhood.

One problem followed another. Major infrastructure problems were discovered and an unrealistic fee plan was put forward that no ordinary women could afford.

The result was chaos, confusion, and controversy. A costly court case for City Hall. Faulty and haphazard communication. Valuable time wasted on Council endlessly deliberating on changing the Official Community Plan. Demonization of the residents of the Haldi Road neighborhood. The creation of an unnecessary, divisive atmosphere in the city. And, just recently, what appears to be the cancellation of the Recovery Centre at the Haldi Road site due to failure to find an organization to run it.

Why were things done in such a manner? In part, it appears to be because two of the proponents of the Recovery Centre happened to have plunged ahead and purchased this particular Haldi Road site before the other necessary steps had been taken.

In other words, a private decision trumped what should have been a step-wise, public process to address a pressing community need.

The result has been a textbook case on how not to establish a viable, community-supported addictions recovery centre for women. City Council and the provincial government should learn from this case, and not repeat it.

Let’s get on with establishing an addictions recovery centre in the region for women. But this time, let’s do it the right way.

Peter Ewart is a columnist and writer based in Prince George, British Columbia. He can be reached at: peter.ewart@shaw.ca