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\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\nMore clarity on a long-awaited supervised consumption site in Winnipeg was revealed during a surprise announcement on Thursday. Manitoba\u2019s premier says that the site here at 366 Henry Avenue will officially open next month.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re doing the harm reduction, the supervised consumption site opening next month,\u201d said Premier Kinew.<\/p>\n
The opening will be a temporary site until a permanent spot becomes available at the site. \u00a0The province says Aboriginal Health and Wellness will run the site, and they are currently hiring.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome staff have been hired, so the director has been hired; they\u2019re interviewing some peer mentors right now and clinical staff, and then once they\u2019re hired and trained up, that\u2019s when the site will open.\u00a0 The site has already been fitted for what\u2019s going to be there, and you know we\u2019re eager to get this open because people need the supports,\u201d explained Bernadette Smith, the Minister of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness.<\/p>\n
Back in March, the province backed away from a timeline, emphasising the need to do it properly, not quickly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With the news coming to light, Mayor Scott Gillingham says his concern is about the safety of the surrounding community.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the things that I\u2019ve expressed, and I appreciate Minister Smith has heard me on this, as has the premier, to make sure that safety i the surrounding area is prioritized, I know there\u2019s been a lot of dialogue between the province and chief bowers and the Winnipeg police service as well.\u00a0There needs to be coordination, you see coordination here, regarding the supervised consumption site, there needs to be good coordination, i know there\u2019s been a lot of good dialogue,\u201d said Mayor Gillingham.<\/p>\n
Kelly Miranda, manager at the neighbouring Pampanga Restaurant, says she\u2019s concerned about the impacts on the business.\u00a0She says recently a meeting was held by Aboriginal Health and Wellness, where businesses were assured that the area would be patrolled regularly, and she hopes that comes to fruition.<\/p>\n
\u201cStunned, shocked, I wish the government would have given us more notice,\u201d said Miranda. \u201cThe chief of police was there too, so they\u2019re saying just call 9-1-1, document everything, we\u2019ll try to get there as soon as possible, so that\u2019s what I\u2019ll be looking for, is how they\u2019ll be monitoring, keeping the businesses, the residents, the community, and the people around here using the site, keeping them safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
The province didn\u2019t give an exact date for when the site will be open next month.<\/p>\n
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\t\t\t\t366 Henry Avenue. (Credit: Google Maps) <\/p>\n
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