Sobering centre location approved
Council hears from concerned residents, has lengthy debate on issue
On Monday, council approved the permit to allow the sobering centre and day shelter to occupy 5111 50 St. - NNSL file photo |
Jessica Davey-Quantick
Northern News Services
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The combined day shelter and sobering centre will be going into 5111 50 St.
Council conditionally approved the facility to go into the downtown building next to Northern Lites Motel at Monday's council meeting.
Council debated for several hours before approving the permit, with the caveat that administration work with the Department of Health and Social Services to create a safety and security plan.
"This is certainly not perfect," said Coun. Adrian Bell. "But it is literally the only option if we want to do this."
The GNWT has signed a five-year lease agreement with Northern News Services, which publishes Yellowknifer. Previously, the 4,750-square-foot, single storey building housed Canarctic Graphics, a printing company.
Once open, the new space will house both a day shelter with room for between 30 and 40 people and a sobering centre for up to 26 people, with separate spaces for men and women. The sobering centre will only admit people over the age of 19.
A temporary sobering centre opened in July. In conjunction with the city's safe-ride program, the centre has contributed to a fall in calls to emergency services, according to RCMP. That centre, previously located in the Yellowknife Community Arena, closed on Sept. 15.
Several of the centre's new neighbours attended the meeting to speak out against the proposed new location.
"I'm fearful sometimes," said April Desjarlais, president of Khione Resources Limited and owner of 5105 50th Street.
"I do not doubt that something has to be done. I just don't understand how we can possibly think that putting a sobering centre next door to a liquor store is going to help this situation."
Despite the concerns, multiple councillors stressed the urgent need for the facility.
"I think a sobering centre is not a nice to have," said Coun. Julian Morse. "Nor is a day shelter. These are things that we absolutely need in this city - we desperately need them."
Coun. Steve Payne agreed.
"This is a really tough one for everybody," he said.
"It's almost like we're forced to let this pass, but it's a tough one."
Bell said he hopes to see security improve around the new location, adding he isn't impressed with what he sees around the day shelter.
"I can't imagine I'm the only one here who thinks that we can improve on the safety and security around day shelter is currently monitored is "absolutely unacceptable."
"There has to be a way to ensure that we do a better job of making sure make sure there's not fights breaking out all the time, the consumption of alcohol right outside the doorstep and other
activities," he said. "We have to be able to improve on it."
Now that the approval has been passed by council, the GNWT takes the reins of the project. Coun. Shauna Morgan stressed that it was crucial the community keeps the GNWT's feet to the fire to make sure this initiative is done right.
"If we go at it in a half-assed way, it's going to fail," said Morgan. "So I would like to see them put as many resources as they can towards this, make this work."
