I had the distinct pleasure of watching council give approval to the Spirit Bear Centre Society proposal for a detox/recovery facility for female youth.

Personal experience has taught me that detox/treatment/recovery for youth is non-existent in this area. In truth, services for youth are virtually non-existent in this province.

Councillor Lowen was accurate about the quality of the people involved when he spoke in support of the proposal . Councilor Smith was correct when he said that we are deceiving ourselves if we do not think we have youth in our community who need this type of mentoring and recovery. He was also right that there is a need for a variety of facilities to address our communities addiction, recovery and homeless issues.

Councilor Smith was also quite correct in his statement that we want to attract and support responsible groups that are going to provide services that benefit our community. It is by welcoming and supporting people such as those at Spirit Bear that we ensure that our detox/recovery facilities are world class. As a city we have have seen what happens when you do not support good facilities and organizations.

It was positive to hear that Councillor Ross took the time to meet and inspect the premises. On the other hand it was unfortunate to hear Councillor Gill give in to the NIMBYs.

The citizens of the neighbourhood should not feel as though they have been singled out. The harsh, sad reality is that with the number of issues and thus facilities needed to address and reduce Abbotsfords social problems, all neighbourhoods in the city will be host to facilities. Reality is that the need for recovery and transition facilities in this city is deep and we want not only to put in place the structures needed, but to attract the best people and societies to be running these programs.

Bravo for council for approving this proposal and setting a precedent for approving projects filling community needs and involving good people. I would ask that council direct city staff to extend a welcome to Spirit Bear and to facilitate any needs they may have. I would also ask citizens who have the opportunity to both say “Well done” to council and lend support to Spirit Bear.

I do have a question/challenge for those who signed the petition against this proposal, a paraphrasing of John F. Kennedy. Ask not what your community can do for you, but what you can do for you community. What are you going to do to make this facility a success? They say it takes a community to raise a child. It definitely takes a community to reclaim a child or person from drugs.

This question/challenge is important not only for those of the neighbourhood, but as a question/challenge for all citizens. For in the answer lies the truth of whether Abbotsford is merely a collection of buildings? Or is Abbotsford a Community?