Pubdate: Fri, 16 Dec 2005
Source: Kelowna Capital News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005, West Partners Publishing Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.kelownacapnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1294
Author: Barry Gerding

FOUR PILLARS PINS FISCAL HOPES ON MAYOR'S SUPPORT

The Central Okanagan Four Pillars Coalition has done its work in
presenting the community's viewpoint on how to address the drug
problem in the region.

Now the coalition is waiting for the politicians to do their part by
securing funding for a regional drug coordinator.

Brian Mairs, a member of the coalition, says he was not dismayed this
week to learn the Central Okanagan Regional District has backed out of
attempting to secure funding for the new position.

Earlier this week, the CORD board opted to allow the City of Kelowna
to create and maintain a drug policy coordinator for the entire
region. CORD already expects to get a $35,000 grant for the position,
which would be handed over to the city.

But city control of this initiative goes against the mindset of the
Four Pillars Coalition, expressed in its 103-page report and 28
recommendations for action.

Mairs says the coalition wanted the drug policy coordinator to be a
regional position that covers from Peachland to Lake Country.

"I think we felt that was important both to be physically located at
the regional district office and to reinforce the perception that drug
abuse is a regional issue, not just the City of Kelowna."

But Mairs says he was encouraged by new Kelowna Mayor Sharon
Shepherd's commitment to find funding for the drug coordinator
position as soon as possible.

"We feel this has to happen and happen now, but we also understand
there is a process to both find funding and hiring someone that takes
time to carry out," Mairs says.

"Realistically, we would like to think someone will be in this
position three months down the road."

Mairs feels positive that a framework has been created from the
coalition's report for the person hired as the regional drug policy
coordinator to operate from.

"We are happy that the report we created was based on input from a
wide range of community groups and individuals and is a solid
blueprint to work from, for whoever is hired for this position," Mairs
says.

As well, the Four Pillars Coalition has also enlisted five volunteers
to serve on a drug policy transition team.

They include Mairs along with Carmen Linehan, Catherine
Williams-Jones, Shane Picken and Shelley Cook.

"Until the drug policy coordinator position has been filled, we are
entering into a transition stage wherein the co-chair positions (of
the Four Pillars Coalition) have been dissolved and a transition team
has been struck," Mairs says.

"It is anticipated that the capacity of the Four Pillars Coalition
will evolve to that of community advisors to the drug policy
coordinator."

The Four Pillars Coalition recommended the position be created for a
minimum of 10 years and would be the administrative backbone of the
initiative, to ensure the prevention, enforcement, harm reduction and
treatment pillars function effectively and are carried out.

The report and 28 recommendations submitted by the coalition is
available for review at http://4pillars.livingpositive.ca.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin