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Manitoba’s only supervised drug consumption site opened its doors for the first time on Friday but isn’t expected to operate again until July.
The facility at 366 Henry St. is being run by Aboriginal Health and Wellness, which said in a statement a “graduated opening” is being done to ensure “a safe, secure environment” for everyone who needs to access its services.
“The graduated opening will roll into multiple dates in July, and we anticipate a full opening in August,” the statement said.
The site is initially being run in collaboration with staff from the Mobile Overdose Prevention site, also known as MOPS, because of its experience responding to overdoses, according to the statement, which was provided to CBC News by the province.
Run by the social outreach agency Sunshine House, MOPS has provided safe-injection and drug-testing services from the back of a van since 2022.
The supervised consumption site was originally slated to open in March, but the provincial government backed away from that timeline, with Premier Wab Kinew eventually saying it would open sometime in June.
The province has said the site — located at a provincially owned industrial building west of Main Street and just south of the Canadian Pacific Kansas City railyard — won’t supply people with drugs.
People will be permitted to inject drugs with the supervision of staff members, who can help respond to possible overdoses.