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The Resort Village of Fort San has voted against allowing a proposed addictions treatment centre in the community, for now.
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Mayor Steven Helfrick abstained from voting and councillor Don Williams resigned his post last week, leaving the three remaining councillors to vote on Tuesday evening.
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Councillors Valerie Hamilton, John Naumetz and Brad Redman all voted against a proposal to convert owner James Archer鈥檚 building into a replacement site for Pine Lodge Treatment Centre, which was in Indian Head but burned down in a Dec. 24 fire.
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The resolution presented to council stated, 鈥淭he council agrees that a substance abuse treatment centre falls within the definition of a residential care facility as set out in the Resort Village of Fort San zoning bylaw.鈥�
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Archer said he's exploring his options about how to proceed. He鈥檒l either apply to council for a zoning bylaw amendment or seek an appeal through the provincial Development Appeals Board. He said he hasn鈥檛 decided on an option.
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Pine Lodge hosted 43 beds for treating people with substance addictions.
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Helfrick said he chose to abstain, because 鈥渋t was going to be carried whether I voted or not. So I just declined to vote.
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鈥淭hat doesn't mean I didn't support it. In fact, I am the only supporter on our council, in my view, of the acceptance of the zoning definition.鈥�
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Archer鈥檚 building in Fort San is the former site of the Prairie Christian Training Centre, operated by the United Church.
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Peter Nokonechny is a former client of Pine Lodge. He鈥檚 now close to nine years sober from alcohol.
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鈥淚 am disappointed by the decision but not surprised,鈥� he said in a statement sent to the Leader-Post. 鈥淪tigma is a difficult thing to overcome. This puts a lot of pressure on Pine Lodge to find a new home coming out of the pandemic. I pray they find a way forward. Lives literally depend on it.鈥�
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Helfrick believes the proposed treatment centre does meet Fort San鈥檚 bylaw definition of a residential care facility in two ways: 鈥淭he residential care portion of it. (And) the educational-type facility,鈥� based on what he learned about Pine Lodge鈥檚 past work.
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鈥淧art of it is through counselling, part of it is through education, part of it is through life skills to deal with everyday situations. So in my view that's an educational-type facility,鈥� the mayor said.
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Fort San鈥檚 three councillors and Williams did not respond to emailed requests for comment.
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Lisa Klatt, a former Pine Lodge client and current counsellor there, is trying to do what she can with her clients by phone, including those on a waiting list to get into Pine Lodge.
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She said any added delay to entering treatment is seldom helpful. 鈥淭hey don't have the hope and they get almost defeated 鈥� 鈥榳ell, I鈥檝e been waiting months for this and nothing鈥檚 changing.鈥欌��
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Saskatchewan鈥檚 substance use crisis continues: Estevan鈥檚 recently opened treatment centre at St. Joesph鈥檚 Hospital has a wait list of 156 people. The centre has 30 beds.
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鈥� with files from Heather Polischuk, Regina Leader-Post
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