Injection Site -- LNN

By Connor Gunn/LethbridgeNewsNow

Galt Gardens pop-up injection site moves location on 2nd night

Sep 28, 2020 | 11:25 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB- Just three weeks after the city’s Supervised Consumption Site (SCS) was shut down, an unsanctioned injection site popped up in Galt Gardens Friday night. There was a plan for it to be set up again Saturday night.

However, the group never showed up at Galt Gardens.

A group of concerned citizens (Lethbridge Overdose Prevention Society) led by former Supervised Consumption Site employee, Tim Slaney, planned to return to the park from 8:00 to 11:00-pm.

Instead, they moved to the Civic Centre field.

Slaney said the group had to move because of protesters bashing the idea and he was concerned they would ruin the night.

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After a CBC story was published about Friday night’s pop-up tent SCS in Galt Gardens, police were aware of the event and in their words “expected” it to happen again Saturday night.

Slaney said the criticism that has come from the public has been hard to hear and that the site is not illegal because “it hasn’t been tested in court.”

“The province issued a statement to CBC News from Alberta’s associate minister of mental health and addiction, saying the site is illegal and is in contravention of the Criminal Code of Canada.”

However, part of the reason Slaney moved the tent is that according to the city bylaw, unless allowed by a permit, no person shall:

— Camp in a park

— Erect a tent or other structure in a park

On Friday night, the group waited for the sun to go down before setting up a small tent that served as an unauthorized safe space for people with addictions to consume drugs.

Slaney went on to say the closure of the SCS was a bad idea.

“It can only be described as irresponsible and honestly a dereliction of Alberta’s responsibility to the citizens of Lethbridge,” he said in an interview with CBC.

There is still support for a larger Supervised Consumption Site. On the day of its shutdown, a group of supporters held a “die in” to protest its closure. This, in spite of the fact that the former SCS is being investigated by police, after an audit discovered $1.6 million was unaccounted for in Arches operation of the facility.

On local social media, one volunteer said they accommodated three individuals in the tent on Friday and handed out drinks and snacks to others while visiting with those who showed up and offering first aid to those who might need it.

The police were nearby to make sure everything went smoothly, and Slaney said besides some people coming by to spout off some hateful remarks, the rest of the night was steady.

On Saturday, LNN received comments from those opposing the ‘pop-up’ SCS, by way of email and messenger. A couple of he comments included:

— “The last few weeks since SCS closed, it’s been a noticeable difference in traffic and the state of those passing by. Last night was the first time we watched an increase in ppl completely messed up wandering the streets. Funny how, unknown to us, across the street, there was an unauthorized SCS wannabe operation going on.”

— “The governing bodies need to address this from a working model not a dysfunctional model. The Police need to be consistent. The ones in power need to operate from humanitarian social decline than a profit. Sigh. It’s just hard knowing there are better ways to address this for those involved but forced to sit and watch a total s***show run wild at the cost of businesses and people’s lives.”

As the story progresses, LNN will keep the public updated.