Local chamber of commerce holding luncheon to discuss OPS site

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The local chamber of commerce is holding a luncheon for members amid ongoing conversations in the community surrounding the location of the proposed safe injection site.

Jared Braun, the Salvation Army’s executive director, Angela De Smit, Northern Health’s chief operating officer of the northeast, and Josef De Guzman, Northern Health’s manager of specialized services in the North Peace, will be speaking at the luncheon.

Kathleen Connolly, CEO of the Fort St. John & District Chamber of Commerce, says the luncheon’s purpose is for the chamber’s membership, the Salvation Army, and Northern Health to have a conversation.

“The intention is to really have that conversation about what the businesses are seeing and what impacts they’re feeling and then how Northern Health and the Salvation Army can help navigate through that to create a safe community for everybody,” Connolly said.

During the luncheon, the Salvation Army will speak about the Northern Centre of Hope facility, including the supportive housing and emergency shelter. The newly constructed supportive housing building recently welcomed its first long-term tenants.

Northern Health will discuss their provision of the clinical health services team for complex care housing and give an overview of the NH Community Health Services Centre, which includes overdose prevention services. 

Northern Health will also talk about the structure of the Community Neighbourhood Group starting in partnership with the chamber.

The local chamber of commerce released a letter earlier this year with their recommendations for the site at 10067 100th Avenue. The location was announced via a letter from Northern Health’s COO Angela De Smit last November.

Connolly says the letter was well-received by the community, the city, Northern Health, and the Salvation Army.

“They’re all going to be sharing information with the public in terms of what they’re working on,” Connolly said.

“But I know behind the scenes they are working on the recommendations that we made and how we can move some of those forward.”

Connolly said that the chamber board decided to weigh in because of the potential change to the downtown core.

The luncheon is intended for chamber members, but Connolly says residents who may be affected by these facilities and want to join the conversation are asked to contact the chamber at 250-785-6037.