Pubdate: Thu, 31 Jan 2008 Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB) Copyright: 2008 Winnipeg Free Press Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/info/letters/index.html Website: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502 Author: Aldo Santin PROVINCE SCRAPS REHAB LOCATION St. Vital Residents Object To St. Amant Site New facility still needed to treat young addicts By Aldo Santin THE Health department has bowed to pressure from a group of St. Vital residents and cancelled plans to locate a rehab centre for severely addicted young people on the St. Amant grounds. Yvonne Block, executive director of mental health, addictions and spiritual health for Health Manitoba, said the department is looking for another site somewhere in the city for the innovative program, operated by staff from Marymound, known as the youth addictions stabilization unit. "We made that decision (Wednesday) to respect the wishes of the community," Block said, adding that a large number of residents living close to the St. Amant grounds had been complaining about the project for the past three months. The province planned to build a one-storey, 7,535 square-foot building on a portion of St. Amant's expansive grounds. St. Amant, a resource and residential cenre that provides programs for people with developmental disabilities, is located on the banks of the Red River, off River Road and south of Bishop Grandin Boulevard. The proposed structure was to provide a locked, seven-day, drying-out facility for kids aged 12 to 17 years of age whose parents have obtained a court order to send them for treatment. The objective of the program is to get kids off their addictions quickly and in a mental state where they can be moved to another facility for long-term treatment. Nancy Cooke, a local resident, said she was pleased that the province cancelled the location. Cooke said area residents had conducted an intense lobbying effort, contacting area New Democrat MLAs and cabinet ministers Christine Melnick (water stewardship) and Kerri Irvin-Ross (healthy living) and members of the PC caucus. Marymound, a private, non-profit agency providing a range of therapeutic and educational services to young people and their families, has been running the program out of a 100-year-old building for the past year, where it treated 150 youths. But Marymound said the building is inadequate, with an outdated heating and ventilation system and with problems ensuring security. Marymound proposed leasing land from St. Amant but residents opposed the plan, expressing concern over potential threats from youths who might escape from the new facility and fears of drug dealers coming into the neighbourhood. The St. Amant property is zoned residential and the site needed to be rezoned and a variance granted to allow it to be constructed closer than regulations allow to another youth treatment centre. An appearance before the Board of Adjustment in mid-January was changed to next week but Block said the application will now be withdrawn. Block said the province, which is funding the program, remains committed to it. "We want to find another site as soon as possible," Block said. Gwenda Nemerofsky, spokeswoman for Marymound, said the lease at the current site expires in June, adding she expects it will have to be extended until a new location can be secured. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart