Regina organization seeking community feedback on proposed supervised consumption site
The Nēwo-Yōtina Friendship Centre is asking the Regina Heritage community to provide feedback on the proposed development of a long-term supervised consumption site.
The site will help prevent overdoses in the Heritage neighbourhood, the organization said. The centre is inviting the community to fill out a short survey to give their input.
“If someone is going to use drugs anyways, it’s best for them to be in the safest environment possible where there are also services to help them if they want to get help for their addictions,” said Nicola Kimber, mental wellness support worker at the centre.
“I don’t see drugs going anywhere. It’s always going to be here and it’s going to get worse and people need to be educated and understand,” said Fernanda Horse, resolution health support worker at the centre.
The centre is applying for federal exemption for their building at 1635 11th Ave. to host the site.
An exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act is necessary to be able to operate the site since it is prohibited to possess controlled substances to operate a supervised consumption site for medical purposes in Canada, according to the Government of Canada.
“It’s important to get that exemption because it’s important to have safe injection sites in Regina, so that we’re helping our community out, so that we’re lowering HIV stats and we’re lowering overdose stats,” said Emile Gariepy, harm reduction manager at the centre.
“Getting an inhalation room in here would mean that we can prevent even more overdoses because most of the overdoses that I do to are just somebody who has smoked fentanyl.”
Following successful completion of an application, Health Canada would grant an exemption to the site. However, that does not always mean the site will be available to the public yet.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Man convicted of involuntary manslaughter in father's drowning, told police he was baptizing him
A Massachusetts man who told police he was exorcising a demon and performing a baptism when he shoved his father's head under water multiple times has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter in his death.
New Norad commander calls Canada's defence policy update 'very encouraging'
American troops will be spending more time training in the Far North, the new commander of Norad says, a strategy that fits 'hand-in-glove' with Canada's renewed focus on Arctic defence.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.