Province Buys Baldy Hughes Treatment Centre

Wednesday, December 22, 2010 11:48 AM

Prince George, B.C.-The future looks a lot brighter for the Baldy Hughes Addiction Treatment Centre and Therapeutic Community after the province invested $3 million to purchase the 26-hectare (65-acre) property that is home to the residential treatment program.

"Baldy Hughes helps people confront their addictions and turn their lives around," said Rich Coleman, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General and Minister Responsible for Housing. "Purchasing this property will provide stability and long-term security to a program that
benefits the entire community by reducing homelessness and helping people regain their independence after struggling with addiction."

Under the agreement, the New Hope Recovery Society which operates the centre will also receive annual operating funding of just over $277,000 through BC Housing. In addition, the society receives operating funds of $100,000 through provincial gaming grants and up to $676,000 in support recovery funding from the Ministry of Social Development.

Located 30 kilometres southwest of Prince George, the Baldy Hughes Addiction Treatment Centre and Therapeutic Community provides multi-phasic residential addiction treatment and long-term recovery to those suffering from addiction disorders. Clinical, case management, life skills and vocational instructors assist residents in acquiring or regaining the skills necessary to reintegrate themselves as healthy responsible citizens within society at large.

"This provides us with a much greater degree of certainty than what we had before," said Baldy Hughes board chair Kevin England. "We can now proceed with expanding our resident population to upwards of 80 people, and our programming, knowing that our future is much more secure."

The Treatment Centre at Baldy Hughes was the brainchild of former MLA Lorne Mayencourt, who patterned the centre after a community in Italy.

Baldy Hughes , initially an American run radar station, was built as the Cold War was gaining momentum. Baldy Hughes was part of the Pinetree Line of radar stations that formed the early warning system of possible missile attacks from the Soviet Union. Construction of the site started in ’52 and was completed in ’55.

Then in 1963, the American flag was lowered, and March 1 of ’63, the Royal Canadian Air Force was put in command of the site, a command that continued for another 25 years, until the base closed in 1988.

The site was later purchased and run as a conference centre and resort ( Moose Springs resort) until it sold at auction in July of 2006 for $650 thousand dollars.

It opened as the treatment centre in January of 2008.

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Posted on Wednesday, December 22, 2010 11:48 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: darkken on December 22 2010 12:18 PM

Great news for Baldy Hughes. In my opinion, a well run centre and has been doing lots for people with addictions who need more than the 29 days stay

Posted by: Loki on December 22 2010 12:21 PM

Until now. now that it is not a private enterprise, expect performance to decrease.

Posted by: ammonra on December 22 2010 12:47 PM

It sold for $650,000 in 2006 and today the provincial government buys it for $3 million. That's a difference of $2,350,000. Nice piece of change for someone's pocket. Wasn't it once owned by the federal government?

Posted by: gus on December 22 2010 1:23 PM

"Nice piece of change for someone's pocket"

They have operating as well as capital budgets for that place. They could not have done what they did without putting some money into the property to improve it. I suspect the money they received was mainly for operating. They may have had to borrow some money to make capital improvements. The place was quite run down.

So, without knowing the details it would be unfair to say that anyone pocketed any money for their personal gain.

Posted by: JamesToney on December 22 2010 1:42 PM

waste of money 95% of them just re-lapse anyways.

Posted by: Rounder on December 22 2010 2:25 PM

And your statistics are based on what source?

Posted by: He spoke on December 22 2010 2:29 PM

Excellent, millions and millions of dollars to be spent to improve this place. excellent.

Posted by: ob1 on December 22 2010 2:37 PM

Now if only more funding was available for Hospice care in our city. We have the most wonderful facility that is in constant struggle to find sufficient funding.

Posted by: Slim2229 on December 22 2010 2:47 PM

If "in fact" there was only a 5% recovery rate, I doubt it would still be operational.
My only hope is that the Provincial Government will leave well enough alone. It appears to have been well run up to now.But strange things happens when private enterprise is overrun by gov't.

Posted by: Starrider on December 22 2010 2:49 PM

I do not think this is a waste of money this treatment center is meede an this is a good location for it. I am glad the government is getting involved with this type of project (it is alot better then some stuff they waste our money on). anything we can do to help is great.

But the it is true that most people with addictions will re-lapse. But the longer and better the treatment is the less likely this will happen.

"If a person relapses after treatment it is a sign that the treatment was ineffective. In fact the majority, 70 to 90%, of the addicts who go into treatment will relapse within the first year after completing a traditional program. The relapse rate of those going through detox alone is even higher; short term programs have higher failure rates."

Take from http://www.alcohol-drug-treatment.net/relapse.html

Posted by: Starrider on December 22 2010 2:59 PM

It looks like a wonderful place with some good programs beyond just treatment. I hope they keep up the good work.
Check out their web site

http://www.baldyhughes.com/www.wellnesswheel.ca/Welcome.html

Posted by: Slim2229 on December 22 2010 3:21 PM

Star;
Just looked at the website, very nice. Noticed their legal team. They've got excellent counsel.

Posted by: roadking on December 22 2010 4:17 PM

That’s why we should legalize drugs-get the tax money from the sales and put it to good use. I tell ya there’s good money in fixen the dopers

Posted by: hartbooks on December 22 2010 6:19 PM

Tours of the place are welcome, I've been on one. It's impressive. The patients have been doing all of the labour for the renovations to the buildings.Several PG businesses are helping with providing work situations when the patients are stable enough for that. There is nothing else in BC like Baldy Hughes.

Posted by: Palopu on December 22 2010 7:38 PM

The saga of the Baldy Hughes treatment facility goes on and on. This property to the best of my knowledge was bought in an auction for $650,000.00 by a Vancouver Charitable Organization. The owners had hoped to get $1 Million.

The facility was initially called the New Hope Recovery Society, which was headed up by Lorne Mayencourt, a former Liberal MLA, for the riding of Vancouver-Burrard.

Mayencourt stated that he hoped that the facility would have 100 residents by the end of 2008, and up to 500 residents by the end of 2010. Relying completely on donations from individuals and charitable foundations New Hope was to be a true cross-section of the Canadian population-reflecting the non-discriminatory nature of addiction.

Obviously this facility fell short of its original goals. It is also obvious that it will no longer be funded by donations from individuals and charitable foundations. In fact according to the above article it will be funded from different Government programs to the tune of $1,053,000.00 per annum. In addition to this funding they will also receive a monthly payment from all their clients, either through the welfare system, or through direct payments from clients. There will also be referrals from the Federal and Provincial penitentiarys

So it would appear that the Government purchased this property from the Charitable Organization for $3 Million and will also fund it, but that the facility will continue to be run by those who originally get it started. A rather interesting development to say the least.

There is no doubt that a facility for alcoholics and drug addicts is needed. Especially since this same Government shut down the Nechako Treatment Centre in Prince George that had a 28 day treatment program, that ran successfully for over 30 years.

I dont have the time or the energy to check out and see exactly how we got from a Charitable Organization to a Government funded Organization, in such a short period of time, however it appears that someone who bought the property for $650,000.00 Sold it for $3 Million. Not a bad investment for someone.

We will probably have another announcement of a similiar nature in the not to distant future. Another facility for drug addicts and alcoholics, located just outside the City, the facility bought by the Provincial Government to provide treatment for addicts through-out the Province, mainly from the lower mainland.

Are we becoming the centre for addictions treatment. Maybe we could become the Addictions Treatment Capital of the North.

Have a nice day.

Posted by: supertech on December 22 2010 9:14 PM

I'm willing to bet money that it will become a useless therapy project now that the BC liberals have their sticky fingers in it. Pleas don't tell me the "ex MLA" didn't pocket any money---he was a liberal. Cheez! Doesn't any one know the pattern of every government we've elected?

Posted by: Chester on December 22 2010 9:16 PM

The program is better than anything else we have had to offer. The location is perfect. The vision of the government to get involved is a good one, as they don't have a better idea. Might as well jump on one already proven to be successful. Those who have had the opportunity to spend time at Baldy Hughes have nothing but good things to say about it. So what if they relapse. Hasn't everyone tried and failed a few times? Try quitting smoking, gambling, coffee, drinking, marijuana, bingo, pop, overeating, shopping or whatever people become addicted to. I'm thankful for a second chance and a third chance. The consequences of some addictions are just a little more severe, and more visible. However, the struggle to break free from any addiction is the same.

I will continue to support the work of the Baldy Hughes Addiction Treatment Center and the people who are trying to change their lives for the better.

Posted by: He spoke on December 22 2010 9:19 PM

you know what, I don't mind if the success rate is only ten percent. Imagine if a hundred people went thru, it means it gives ten people a honest chance to get their life in order, and become personal success stories..... yeah, I know, its so close to christmas, and it makes me soft and wishy washy.

Posted by: Palopu on December 23 2010 4:55 PM

Turns out the property was bought in an auction by Edmonton based Prowler Leasing, and then was leased for a treatment centre, and then sold to the BC Government.

So looks like the leasing co. made a pretty good profit on their purchase.

Have a nice day.

Posted by: bitter on December 24 2010 3:25 PM

What is the success rate?? What happens to the percent that don't make it??are they sent back to where they came from or are the good people of Prince George going to be taking in more problems?? I live in the less-desirable part of the City so I have to ask that. I am not soft and wishy washy I am scared.

Posted by: Palopu on December 24 2010 9:45 PM

Those who attend this centre are free to leave at any time they wish, with the exception of those that were referred by the Provincial or Federal Penal system. The **prisoners** would be returned to the jails if they did not complete the program. Once completed of course they are released and free to go where ever they choose.

Posted by: Palopu on December 24 2010 9:47 PM

Bitter. The success rate statistically is less than 10%. These numbers are usually higher when received from the treatment centres because a higher number is good for donations, government funding etc;