Pubdate: Wed, 11 May 2016
Source: Calgary Sun, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2016 The Calgary Sun
Contact: http://www.calgarysun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://www.calgarysun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/67
Author: Shawn Logan

CLEANUP OF 'HEROIN ISLAND' IMMINENT: COUNCILLOR

The city and province appear to have gotten the point about the
needle-littered expanse dubbed "heroin island."

Three weeks after Calgary mom Jasmine Van Dyk raised the alarm about a
trove of used needles and trash strewn over a small island on the Bow
River in the northwest neighbourhood of Montgomery, the area
councillor says efforts are underway to clean up the potentially
dangerous mess.

Coun. Ward Sutherland said fire crews were assessing the island by
boat Tuesday and a plan to sweep it clean is imminent. "I've spoken to
the fire chief (Steve Dongworth) personally and he knows it's a
serious issue," said the Ward 1 councillor, raising concerns about Bow
River waters rising.

"The last thing we want is the water to rise and have that stuff
flowing down the river. We don't want anyone to get hurt."

Van Dyk took to social media in mid-April, posting video of the
disgusting trove of new and used needles, filled bio-hazard buckets,
clothing, mail and other rubbish that sits just metres from the home
she shares with her boyfriend and two children.

The island, about the size of a city block, is often easily accessible
depending on the river's flow, in some cases connected to the shore by
a rocky land bridge. But her attempts to get action from the city
resulted in concerns over jurisdiction, with civic officials noting
the island is actually considered provincially-owned Crown land. While
city fire crews cleared most of the needles in April, a video posted
by Van Dyk last week showed the pile of garbage remained largely
undisturbed, and still dotted with needles she fears were used to
inject illegal drugs.
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MAP posted-by: Matt