Local businesses still unhappy with OPS site location

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Some businesses near the Overdose Prevention Services (OPS) Site in Fort St. John that opened in December are still unhappy with its location.

The Fort St. John Health Services Centre, which includes an OPS Site and warming shelter, opened on December 4th at 10067 100th Avenue. It is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The facility is in the same location where the city and other organizations previously operated the Fort St. John Warming Centre.

Northern Health Vice President of Professional Practice Angela De Smit told Energeticcity.ca that the site was chosen because of its previous use as a warming shelter.

In a letter on December 14th, 2022, the city stated that the provincial government holds the jurisdiction for the planning and implementing the overdose prevention services, therefore, Northern Health does not require the City of Fort St. John’s approval.

Not every business owner or manager is against the site, just its location, for various reasons, such as being close to schools and lowering property values.

Property value drops due to proximity to OPS site

Deltek owner Harold Goodwin says he’s had some issues with the location since it held the warming centre, which continued after the OPS site opened.

Goodwin says they’ve found needles by the back door multiple times, which were eventually cleaned up when he complained to the city. They had needles showing up in the back when it was a warming centre, too.

When the building was a warming centre, he says they “tolerated it” because it was temporary.

“It [was] only through the winter, and we’re not heartless,” Goodwin said.

“And now, because of that toleration, they just decided they have a complete green light to do a completely different venue, which is letting people do drugs next door to us.”

The site offers an indoor substance use space, an enclosed outdoor inhalation area, and referrals to treatment options and harm reduction services.

In 2022, when Northern Health was looking for a new location, De Smit told Energeticcity.ca that overdose prevention services save lives.

Goodwin says the surrounding businesses were not consulted when Northern Health suggested the location.

“They claim that everyone was notified, and everyone was in favour, but that’s just completely untrue,” Goodwin said.

In April 2023, the Fort St. John & District Chamber of Commerce and Northern Health established a community advisory committee to engage with the site’s surrounding neighbourhood. The committee has met monthly since May of last year.

Last May, the Fort St. John & District Chamber of Commerce held a luncheon for members to discuss the OPS site.

Speakers included 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.

Goodwin says his building has been for sale since last June. He claims people from BC Assessment lowered the property’s value by approximately $170,000 due to the OPS site opening right next door. It is important to note that property values can be changed over a variety of factors.

“No one wants to be buying the building beside that site, which was why nobody wanted it downtown,” Goodwin said.

“But they bulldoze their way in with their power, and that’s what they chose to do. But it has seriously impacted us.”

Even with the lowered price of the listing, Goodwin says there hasn’t been a single offer on his building.

Friendly Pets’ owner not opposed to OPS site, just its location

Friendly Pets owner Clover Barnes says she doesn’t own the building the shop is in, and though it is for sale, she would not buy this building with the OPS site behind it.

“Maybe in a couple of years if it stays the same, but at this time, I would not buy the building. I’d look elsewhere,” Barnes said.

The Friendly Pets owner says incidents in her store are no worse than last year.

“It seems to be a little bit cleaner in the back,” Barnes said.

She says Northern Health has also put cameras up, which she likes to see so they don’t rely on hers when police need to be involved.

“It’s not that bad, but I’ve never been around the front… So I have no idea what’s happening over there,” Barnes said. “I hate to say it, but they seem to be doing a good job.”

Decrease in unhoused individuals inside cultural centre

North Peace Cultural Centre operations manager Oliver Hachmeister says there have been no incidents that he has been made aware of inside or outside the centre since the OPS site opened on December 4th.

Hachmeister says that over the past couple of winters, he and others who work in the cultural centre have noticed a decrease in the number of unhoused individuals using the building to warm up.

Northern Health is attempting to deal with a significant problem in the community with the OPS site, he adds.

“While we, the North Peace Cultural Society, may not like the location of the site, close to a school and three childcare facilities, we recognize that it is in the area that it might have the most significant impact on the drug problem in Fort St. John,” Hachmeister said.

“We believe that Northern Health is also trying to find the most effective way to deal with the ongoing drug use epidemic, and we should try to support them in what they are doing.”

The operations manager says the society believes Northern Health will make the best decisions to save the most lives and reduce harm.

The North Peace Cultural Society is part of a committee that meets regularly with Northern Health to discuss neighbourhood concerns and will continue to do so.

Despite their efforts, Northern Health continues to see an increase in drug overdose deaths.

Northeast B.C. reported 33 drug overdose deaths in 2023

According to the most recent B.C. Coroner’s services report, Northeast B.C. reported four drug overdose deaths in January.

With 33 fatal overdoses recorded, 2023 is the year with the most deaths in the northeast since 2012.

The report states there is no indication that prescribed safe supply contributed to illicit drug deaths.

Up until December 2023, the Peace River North reported 19 overdose deaths, Peace River South had 13, and there were none in Fort Nelson.

In January 2024, the province reported 198 suspected illicit drug toxicity deaths, a 14 per cent decrease from the number of deaths in January 2023 and a ten per cent decrease in deaths from December 2023.

By health authority, in 2024, the highest rates were in Northern Health at 81 deaths per 100,000 people, followed by Island Health at 50 per 100,000. Overall, the rate in B.C. is 42 deaths per 100,000 people.