Proposed injection site location causing concern: SD60
The proposed location of the Northern Health Authority’s safe injection site is causing concern for School District 60’s Board of Trustees and parents alike.
At the regular meeting of the Board of School Trustees on March 13, 2023, Trustee Tom Whitton brought forth his concern that the proposed safe injection site is too close to Ecole Central Elementary School, and other locations where young children gather, on a daily basis. The proposed site is on 100th Avenue, in the old H&R Block building. The building, which is currently being used as a warming centre, is within a block of the North Peace Cultural Centre (home to the Public Library), a daycare and Ecole Central Elementary School. Whitton was especially concerned that there was no communication from Northern Health when they selected the proposed site.
“What is the state of communication between Northern Health and School District 60?” Whitton said. “I feel that there was a breakdown in communications somewhere.” He went on to suggest that the Board write a letter to Northern Health, expressing the Board’s concern that they should have sought feedback from the School District, when choosing a site that could potentially increase risk for children.
“I appreciate that Northern Health has a mandate, but we’re here for the kids. To make sure that they’re protected.”
Neither the Trustees nor Superintendent Stephen Petrucci are aware of the process that Northern Health goes through when choosing a site. Petrucci said that normally, when the City of Fort St. John wants to propose a by-law or change zoning that affects a school, they have to report to the school district.
“They would inform the Secretary-Treasurer, who would bring it to the Board,” said Petrucci.
Whitton also suggested that in the letter, the Board invite Northern Health to come and discuss their processes. “We’re here, we’re open. We’re willing to have discussions.”
Approximately 14 members of the public attended Monday’s meeting, and many echoed Whitton’s concerns.
One parent requested that the Board ask Northern Health if they had considered the demographics of the area surrounding the proposed safe injection site.
“Did they take into account the fact that there’s two daycares within half a block of the safe injection site? There’s also the Cultural Centre, which a lot of children of varying ages use. It’s not just children that are already in School District 60 – there’s also young children that are going to be there. It seems like an oversight.”
Another parent, who has a child at Ecole Central Elementary, shared these concerns and also noted that the cannabis stores “where drugs are dealt” have to be a certain distance away from schools, according to the City’s bylaws.
Board Chair, Helen Gilbert told the attendees that the Board has heard what they’re saying. “You’re expressing the concern that the Minister of Health has decided that the city of Fort St. John needs a safe injection site. To my knowledge, there was no government to government contact about that, and so now we’re hearing your concerns tonight,” she said. “We will go through a process of raising the concerns from this table, and from our public.” Part of that process is the letter to Northern Health, as well as discussion with both the affected schools and other school districts in the Province where safe injection sites are located. The School District 60 Board will be looking to see what sorts of impacts the safe injection sites have had on the nearby schools and surrounding neighbourhoods.