A majority of people speaking at a public hearing on Wednesday, Nov. 22 supported a proposal for a mental health and addictions treatment centre at 188 McCarter Street in Parksville. Photo via Google Maps.

Parksville city council heard from residents at a packed public hearing about the proposed location of a new mental health and/or addictions treatment facility at 188 McCarter Street on Wednesday.

Many of the residents who spoke in favour of the treatment centre at the public hearing were emotional, having been directly impacted by drugs and alcohol.

One was Beverly Mitchell, who worked as a police officer in Vancouver for 30 years.

“Every day I dealt with addiction and mental health issues, and so many times, they said, ‘I've been waiting forever to get into rehab and there is no space’” she said. “And you could phone all of the spaces and there was no space. We can't leave the rehab facilities for the big cities of Vancouver and Nanaimo and Victoria, because it is such a prominent problem that we face”

Amir Hemani, chief executive officer at Berwick Retirement Communities, which has a new facility near the proposed treatment centre, says that he is against it being located there.

“Berwick made a multi million dollar transformational investment in your downtown core to anchor your revitalization strategy based on your direction, and community vision stated in your OCP and innovative seniors facility,” he said.

Hemani said that the treatment facility was never contemplated downtown.

“If council approves this type of use in the downtown, which is a significant departure from the stated uses in the OCP, then you are announcing to the public that your OCP cannot be relied on for reasonable guidance as it is subject to consequential and glaring deviations in actual outcomes,” he said. “It is also a callous disregard for the private investment made on trust and confidence.”

Lorraine Crossen is a resident of Berwick who spoke in favour of the treatment centre.

“I fully support this new residence that is going to be provided for these people that want help,” she said. “We need to give it to them.

Trevor Hawking from Coombs also spoke in favor of the proposal urging council members to listen to ordinary people.

“I hope council listens a little less to multi-million dollar corporations and more to we the people,” he said. “Because it seems like we the people care and the corporation's don't.”

Teresa Cooper, executive director for the Parksville Downtown Business Association, says that 70 per cent of her group’s membership are against the location being used for a treatment centre.

“Let me tell you, these are not heartless, cruel people not wanting something in their backyard,” she said. “They are people who see every day what goes on downtown and it's difficult. They're good people. They have hearts of gold. This is a real challenge for them.”

However, not all business owners were against the facility.

“As an investor and business owner, I am in support of this development,’ said Peter Yorkson. “My personal opinion is give it a chance. Let's move forward. Let's help clean up the street.”

Leana Taekema. manager for the Shelley Road Centre, says the location will help people attend the many recovery meetings at the community centre.

“These people can get to that meeting, they can walk to the Shelly Hall and get a meeting every day of the week,” she said.

After listening to people speak from their hearts for an hour and a half, Berwick CEO Amir Hemani addressed the meeting again.

“These stories are personal, they are gut wrenching, and they are super, super real,” he said.” And I find it really difficult to think that we can be torn in such a way where each of us would like to have our respective interests be part of the equation.

Hemani asked why the city council could not find a solution that works for everybody, saying it shouldn’t have to be a “zero sum game.”

According to city staff, 56 letters and emails had been received in response to the application, with 28 in support and 26in opposition and two that were neutral.

The proposed bylaw will now go back to Parksville council for third reading at a future council meeting.

Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.