Pubdate: Fri, 02 May 2003
Source: Abbotsford Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2003 The Abbotsford Times
Contact:  http://www.abbotsfordtimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1009
Author:  Christina Toth

FIRE SLOWS PLAN FOR TREATMENT CENTRE

Plans to create a drug and alcohol treatment centre at a former provincial 
corrections camp outside of Mission may have gone up in smoke after a fire 
destroyed the administration building at the Boulder Bay camp.

But that may not be the only obstacle to creating the addictions treatment 
centre, said Mission Mayor Abe Neufeld.

"The realization we're coming to is that the road to the camp is very 
difficult, and Pacific Community Resource Society is having a hard time 
getting funding for the project," Neufeld said recently.

Initially, the District of Mission was going to take ownership of the 
40-year-old camp, if a group could be found to operate the facility as a 
treatment centre for teens.

The Pacific Society is a good candidate to oversee such a centre as they 
have experience in treatment and administration, said the mayor.

Another treatment centre would add significantly to the inventory of a 
handful of beds that are available for teenagers in the Lower Mainland 
outside of Vancouver at a publically-run facility in New Westminster, where 
there is always a waiting list.

The B.C. Building Corporation was prepared to "let [Boulder Bay] go back to 
nature," but Neufeld wasn't prepared to let $350,000 worth of buildings, 
including dormitories, kitchen, a gym, classrooms and other amenities go to 
back to nature.

However, federal and provincial funding for drug treatment programs, while 
promised through initiatives such as the Vancouver Accord that is supposed 
to fund "four pillar" approaches, is "as slow as molasses in coming," said 
Neufeld.

The fire at Boulder Bay, which happened some time in the past month, didn't 
help.

Abbotsford school trustee Uultsje DeJong and Salvation Army staff went to 
visit the camp recently.

"They loved it. Everybody who goes up there loves it," Neufeld said.

Beyond finding a philanthropist who is willing to keep the road to the camp 
maintained and to provide some funding, the mayor said he's running out of 
ideas. However, an addictions treatment centre for youth remains a 
priority. Other sites such as in Keremeos are being considered, he added.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens