February 25, 2021—Ha-Shilth-Sa—Page 5
Shelter society granted $1M for long-term recovery New three-year addictions recovery program starts in April south of Port Alberni with six spaces for women By Karly Blats Ha-Shilth-Sa Contributor Port Alberni, BC - The Port Alberni Shelter Society (PASS) has received $1 million in funding from the provincial government for six long-term recovery beds for women. The province recently announced $13 million for more than 100 new adult treatment and recovery beds in 14 organizations for people struggling with substance-use challenges in B.C. The six beds in Port Alberni will be located at the Port Alberni Shelter Society’s new Therapeutic Recovery Community located at the Shelter Farm, about 10 minutes from Port Alberni at 725 Franklin River Road. Wes Hewitt, PASS executive director, said the six recovery beds will be part of a three-year program. “We’re moving towards opening a therapeutic community and generally most therapeutic communities are a two-year or longer stay because it takes time to make a major change in someone’s life,” Hewitt said. “When you come out of treatment at 28 or 45 or 60 days you’ve got hopefully the tools to start to make a change in your life but you need those ongoing supports to make sure that it happens. That’s the idea of recovery beds.” Hewitt said the success rate of recovery and moving toward an abstinence base is much greater if the recovery process is long term.
In a PASS report, it states Therapeutic Recovery Communities are proven approaches for treatment of addiction and trauma, and re-entry into the broader community. These communities are a longer-term residential treatment option that helps individuals heal wholly and have success rates as high as 76 per cent. Hewitt said the therapeutic community will open in April and will only be available for six female individuals for now. He said PASS is working with other government agencies and Island Health for referrals for the program. Therapeutic Recovery Communities are free for residents to attend. “Within the recovery model there is education, as in skills and empowering the individual so that when it’s time that they graduate from the program they have a job, something that can pay the bills and they have a home to go to,” Hewitt said. “They’re not just dumped on the street or dumped back into the same situation that they were in before.” There is currently no Therapeutic Recovery Community on Vancouver Island for women in need of support. “We’re excited. We’ve identified gaps in services in the community for years and we’re to fulfill those needs and this is one of the things,” Hewitt said. “From first contact with an individual we can now work through everything from housing to treatment to entering back into the community as a productive person in society. Hopefully we can make some positive changes in some individuals’ lives in our
Photo submitted by Port Alberni Shelter Society
In April the Port Alberni Shelter Society plans to open six spaces for a Therapeutic Recovery Community at a farm (pictured) the society currently runs south of Port Alberni. community.” Of the more than 100 beds receiving funding from the province, 46 will be new spaces in existing treatment and recovery organizations. The remaining beds will be converted from private-pay beds to fully funded public ones for people who cannot afford private rates and to help cut wait times for public treatment. Funding was allocated in two streams to residential treatment services and supportive recovery services.
This online film program will bring together Hesquiaht Nation youth to learn film making skills and produce short films about community Elders, with a focus on Hesquiaht language learning. h=ah=uupac~akukqin is Hesquiaht for “our teachings informed by knowledge holders.” The youth will receive h=ah=uupa “informed teachings” from Elders, and will become h=ah=uupc~uu “well-taught.” In this FREE program, you will: • Learn how to plan, shoot, and edit a short film • Receive a FREE software license for Adobe Premiere Rush • Receive a $100 honourarium • Get creative, make new friends, and have fun
We are looking for young people who: • Are excited to learn filmmaking! • Are between the ages 15-30 and from the Hesquiaht Nation • Are available for ALL 6 program sessions listed below • Have access to a smartphone or video camera • Have access to a computer,can run Zoom and Adobe Premiere Rush.
The program will run: March 22 March 24 March 26 March 29 March 31 April 2
4:00 -5:30pm 4:00 -5:30pm 4:00 -5:30pm 4:00 -5:30pm 4:00 -5:30pm 4:00 -5:30pm
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A news release from the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions states the additional beds will increase access to addictions treatment and recovery bedbased services in every health authority by bringing beds into the public system. The beds will also help to address longstanding service gaps for Indigenous peoples, women, rural and remote communities and people transitioning from corrections.
APPLICATION FOR PESTICIDE USE Pesticide Use Permit (PUP) application #886-0004-21-23 Applicant: Cermaq Canada Ltd., 203-919 Island Highway, Campbell River BC V9W 2C2, 250-286-0022 Application has been made to the Ministry of Environment for approval of a Pesticide Use Permit for the topical removal of sea lice on aquaculture finfish. The pest control product Interox® Paramove® 50, active ingredient Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2), will be used in the marine environment only in accordance with the directions as per the product label and PMRA. Application of Paramove® will take place in a well boat designed specifically for this purpose. Treatment locations are leased from the Province of BC, licence of occupation LF number1403647, 1406648, 1403293, 1408719 & 1405993 located within Herbert Inlet, Millar Channel and Shelter Inlet in the Clayoquot Region, the proposed treatment area totals 5.9ha. Proposed treatment start date is April 19, 2021 with intermittent use over three years ending April 18, 2024. Maps of the treatment area and copies of the permit application can be viewed at Cermaq Canada Ltd. at the address above or visit https://www. cermaq.ca/public-trust/public-reporting. A person wishing to contribute information about the treatment site for the evaluation of this permit application must send copies of the information to both the applicant at the address above and the administrator under the Integrated Pest Management Act at Ministry of Environment; 10470 152 St, Surrey, BC V3R 0Y3 within 30 days of the publication of this notice.
