We've been closely engaged with Alberta Health Services, the City, and the Province since this past fall. Here is an update with respect to the Supervised Consumption Site (SCS) at the Sheldon Chumir Health Centre.
SCS Community Liaison Committee Up and Running
An SCS Community Liaison Committee was set up by Alberta Health Services (AHS) and the BNA to discuss community concerns, find potential solutions and provide advice on how to improve communication with the community. The committee is chaired by AHS and members of the BNA and has been meeting monthly since December.
Councillor Woolley’s 12 Recomendations Approved
Following the January release of a report by the Calgary Police Service describing the escalation of incidents and concerns, Councillor Wooley introduced a Notice of Motion (NoM) to City Council, which can be accessed here:
The Notice of Motion included 12 recommendations:
- An expanded Downtown Outreach Addiction Partnership (DOAP) Program dedicated to the Beltline
- Additional onsite psychologists and psychiatrists that specialize in addictions and mental health within SCS Facility
- Development of comprehensive treatment strategies associated with the SCS Facility
- Review of operations at the SCS Facility to address intake and outpatient optimization
- Increase mobile AHS support staff to allow for better monitoring in and around the SCS Facility
- Creation of a Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) Improvement Fund with a terms of reference
- Resources to support the Beltline Neighbourhood Association, 4th Street Business Improvement Area, and Victoria Park Business Improvement Area in order to incentivize community-driven programming at Central Memorial Park and other potential community space in the vicinity
- Review of needle box locations
- Implementation of daily needle debris clean-ups within a 250 metre radius of the SCS Facility
- Increased Corporate Security at City-owned properties within a 400 metre radius around SCS Facility
- Implement increased security surveillance at Central Memorial Park
- Engagement at the SCS Community Liaison Committee on the topic of a permanent and centralized police presence in the Centre City
At the Feb/4 Combined Meeting of Council, all 12 recommendations were approved and the City Administration was directed to work with Alberta Health Services, the Calgary Police Service, Calgary Fire Department and key stakeholders to develop a set of immediate actions responding to the NoM for consideration.
More Events Programming in Central Memorial Park
A number of City staff are involved in creating a list of short term actions to address the 12 recommendations, including funding, and they have reached out to stakeholders, including BNA and the local Business Improvement groups, to provide input.
Examples of ongoing discussions include:
- Ideas for Calgary Parks, the BIAs and the BNA to further activate the Central Memorial Park with a number or permanent and pop-up events; and
- How to improve security in the area (in part, a combination of Items 6, 10 and 11 in the above list).
More DOAP Team Support for Beltline
In addition, Item 1 (an expanded DOAP program around the SCS) has now been funded by the Province through a pilot program and will become more active in the area soon. The Downtown Outreach Addictions Partnership (DOAP) is often the first point of contact with vulnerable individuals in the community, and this is a critical first step in connecting these people with the support that they need.
Increased Police Presence for Beltline and Downtown
Calgary Police Service have redeployed 11 officers to the Beltline and Downtown to help tackle an overall increase in crime in the City Centre and to increase police presence around the SCS.
New business coming to Central Memorial Park
Watch for an announcement around an exciting new business opening up in the old Provision/Boxwood space in Central Memorial Park this spring!
Improved Communications
BNA will be providing more regular progress updates and will be working with AHS to make more information accessible.
Latest Statistics from Alberta Health Services in Calgary
Here are some of the latest statistics from the February 2019 report by Alberta Health Services for the Supervised Consumption Site (SCS) at the Sheldon Chumir Health Centre.
In January 2019, 60 overdoses were reversed by health care staff and 163 referrals were made to SCS clients for wraparound health services.
Next Steps
City Council will be holding its next discussion on the subject (currently scheduled for May) to discuss potential specific short-term actions which have been identified.
Let's Talk!
Send us your comments or feedback at [email protected].