SSIG vision doesn’t seem to represent all residents

By Lethbridge Herald on January 22, 2022.

Editor:

Social Services Integration Group is supposedly tasked by the City to provide a plan of Social Services and locate them for Lethbridge. 

I submitted a 27-page plan to the SSIG that explains the needs and wants of some of the Blackfoot Confederacy in regards to Indigenous addiction treatment.

 My plan provides a suggested location on the border of the reserve with a rudimentary design and stated purpose. 

I have talked at length with numerous Elders of the Blackfoot Confederacy and put their wants in a submission that includes an addiction housing facility at their borders.

 I have also addressed a homeless housing facility located in the city. 

I know now (after five weeks) that the plan has finally reached SSIG because one of the members of SSIG emailed me directly to thank me for the submission. 

My two previous submissions even though cc’d to them directly on Dec. 12, never got to the chairman of this group, or they did, and have not been acknowledged as received. I have no idea why!

I know that SSIG is planning out social services and needs a location; my plan affects those services and certainly their location! 

The interesting thing is I have a slide from a presentation that was made by/for a committee that outlines where the Community Care Campus (CCC) is to be. 

The slide clearly shows the entire campus located between 2nd Avenue North at Stafford Drive all the way up to 5th Avenue North, also on Stafford. 

My plan would change some of those items in that location! I have no idea what the SSIG timeline is, but I would think three to five years. 

My plan creates a home (not a shelter) for the homeless and a home not a shelter for the addicted to be hopefully completed by November/December of this year!

SSIG has tabled a Nov. 18 document (City website) saying, and I quote “The SSIG is composed of community members who can provide collective wisdom and diverse perspectives that are representative of key sectors within the City of Lethbridge” currently representing numerous organizations.

These include a long list of non-profits and churches and a diversified group of businesses and citizens. 

The BRZ, Chamber of Commerce, London Road Neighbourhood Association (LRNA), Westminster Village Association,(WVA), are the main players and some minor players are included in the letter.

I find this interesting because the location of services in the square block encompassing 2nd Avenue North to 5th Avenue North on Stafford does not include any of the surrounding businesses/residents within 500 metres of the immediate impact area, because they appear to be using the neighbourhood associations who, appear to not be communicating with them.

How do I know? I called them! Do individual residents and businesses know that SSIG is using their associations to move ahead? 

Has the stated “representation” of BRZ, the Chamber and others, been mis-interpreted as support for running with this location?

 I have searched every possible place to find where the SSIG has studied any other location and found none! 

The only thing I have is the slide, titled “Lethbridge Community Care Campus” with a picture of the “19 acres in Broadview District”, from Alpha House to 5th and Stafford, subdivided into various building lots for services!

So I now ask for businesses and residents alike, to call and question their representative organizations, and demand they be kept up to date and informed as to all the locations they have considered and, the criterion each one obviously failed, to arrive at what appears to be a single choice?

My plan considers the Blackfoot Confederacy first! 

Their wants and needs to access their children by their parents and support groups! 

The Blackfoot Confederacy wants their people treated in traditional ways using traditional healing techniques, not our way in the concrete jungle of a city! 

My plan obviously benefits the Blackfoot Confederacy but it also benefits Lethbridge, businesses and residents! 

It does no harm to anyone including all of the downtown! 

My plan gives addicts a home, not a shelter, at a fraction of the cost for downtown facilities! 

The SSIG plan seems to have a vision that does not represent the residents and caters to what other cities always do, which is to embed everything downtown and watch it, businesses, and residents implode!

I am a belligerent person (I am worse) but come by this naturally! I have chosen pain over drugs, I suffer it every day!

 I understand what it is like to be addicted and I understand why the Blackfoot Confederacy wants their children back! 

One Elder used the term “Residential Schools Part 2” in describing what he sees being planned by Lethbridge committees!

 I do not agree, but the point is made! Wake up Lethbridge, speak up, it’s your city!

Dennis Bremner

Lethbridge