The injection site set up at the Civic Centre Saturday night (Lethbridge News Now)

By Justin Goulet/LethbridgeNewsNow

Organizer of pop-up injection site in Lethbridge issued fine

Sep 29, 2020 | 11:38 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The organizer of a group that set up an unsanctioned injection site in Lethbridge has been fined.

On Friday night, the site popped up at Galt Gardens.

On Saturday evening, the group that set it up, known as the Lethbridge Overdose Prevention Society (LOPS), moved to the field at the Civic Centre.

The LOPS is run by former-ARCHES employee Tim Slaney.

The site has permitted people suffering from an overdose access to naloxone and/or other supports.

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READ MORE: Galt Gardens pop-up injection site moves location on 2^nd night

The City of Lethbridge has since confirmed to LNN that the group’s organizer has been issued a ticket for failing to be able to provide an approved permit.

The fine associated to that bylaw offence is $300. The city did not mention Tim Slaney by name.

On Monday, those opposed to the injection site were outside of Lethbridge City Hall with signs in hand.

Lethbridge’s Mike Hoffman believes the city is on a “very destructive path” and said the majority of residents do not want this type of drug-related activity to occur within the region.

READ MORE: Lethbridge residents protest against unsanctioned drug injection site

As of Monday, the LOPS did not have approval form Health Canada or Alberta Health to operate the site. The group was also lacking an approved permit from the City of Lethbridge, which has since resulted in the fine being issued.

As part of Bylaw 5651, no person is allowed to camp in a park or erect a tent or other structure in a park, unless allowed by a permit.

At Monday’s City Council meeting, the pop-up injection site was a topic of discussion.

Councillors decided that the city’s bylaw enforcement officers and Lethbridge Police would monitor the situation that night, in order to document what exactly occurs at the site. As a result, LPS and the city’s bylaw enforcement department attended the scene and a ticket was issued.