Safe consumption site in Timmins ready to open Monday
Safe consumption site in Timmins ready to open Monday
With Health Canada's permission, street drugs can now be consumed inside Safe Health Site Timmins.
Beginning Monday, people struggling with addiction can go there to inject their pre-obtained substances under the supervision of trained staff.
“We do hope to see for the community at large that if they know someone who uses substances, there's a safe place for them," said Patrick Nowak, manager of the addictions program at Timmins and District Hospital.
"We also hope to see decreases in 911 calls, we hope to see less discarded needles and things like that in the community."
There are three consumption booths, each equipped with sterile injection supplies.
"We have the mirrors there so nurses at the other end of the nursing station can sort of watch to make sure there's nothing medically wrong," said Nowak.
People can also get information on site about other local health services.
Dr. Louis Marion-Bellemare said opening Safe Health Site Timmins is an important milestone, but more work needs to be done because it's only a temporary site.
“The Timmins Area Drug Strategy and many other community organizations and leaders are still working vigorously on a permanent site," Marion-Bellemare said.
"That site takes quite a bit of time and we have to get special exemptions from the government and we are still actively working on that and we’re getting closer every day to a permanent site.”
Fifteen new jobs have been created at Safe Health Site Timmins, including nurses, nurse practitioners, harm reduction workers and patient engagement and safety staff members.
Retired police chief John Gauthier will be one of them.
“I’m not done yet. I need to keep serving the community in some form and I'm glad to do it this way," said Gauthier.
In the past two years, health officials said Timmins has had alarmingly high death rates due to suspected drug overdoes, ranking second in the province in 2020 and fourth last year.
The City of Timmins provided $1 million to establish the site.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cabinet heard of potential 'breakthrough' with 'Freedom Convoy' protesters before Emergencies Act was invoked: documents
The night before the federal government invoked the Emergencies Act in response to the 'Freedom Convoy' protests, the prime minister’s national security adviser told him there was 'a potential for a breakthrough' in Ottawa, court documents show.
Anne Heche on life support, survival of crash 'not expected'
Anne Heche is on life support after suffering a brain injury in a fiery crash a week ago and her survival isn't expected, according to a statement from a representative.
A new virus was found in China, here's what we know
Scientists are keeping an eye on the Langya virus, a new pathogen that appears to have been transmitted from animals to humans in China and causes symptoms similar to COVID-19 or the flu.
The Trump home search: Push to unseal warrant used by FBI
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has called for the 'immediate' release of the federal warrant the FBI used to search his Florida estate, hours after the Justice Department had asked a court to unseal the warrant, with Attorney General Merrick Garland citing the 'substantial public interest in this matter.'
City of Toronto investigating after downtown core power outage
The City of Toronto is investigating a power outage that left a large swath of the downtown core including office buildings, a major mall and a university campus without electricity yesterday.
EXCLUSIVE
EXCLUSIVE | B.C. cop stalked ex-girlfriend for years using police computers, misconduct probe finds
A high-ranking B.C. officer used police resources to conduct at least 92 searches on his ex-girlfriend and her family while stalking her over a period of five years, according to documents exclusively obtained by CTV News.
'Sturgeon moon' in photos: Last supermoon of the year passes over Earth
Rising over beaches, buildings and statues, the last supermoon of the year created ample viewing and photo opportunities around the world Thursday night.
Sellers 'expecting yesterday's prices': Canadians cope with a correcting housing market
After a series of interest rate hikes implemented by the Bank of Canada, housing markets are now facing a 'significant' correction. CTVNews.ca spoke to Canadians who are now struggling to make the goal of purchasing a home, or selling one, a reality.
Police investigating attack on Brampton, Ont. media personality as attempted murder
A Brampton, Ont. media personality who was attacked with a machete and axe in his driveway will need months of physical rehabilitation to recover, a close friend says.
Barrie
-
BREAKING
BREAKING | Another crash on Highway 69 closes road
There has been another crash on Highway 69/400 north of Parry Sound that has closed the road Friday morning following a fatal collision earlier this week.
-
Wasaga Beach's IDA takes a direct hit
The front windows of the IDA are boarded up after a car crashed through them, Thursday.
-
Fatal cyclist crash at Scenic Caves
Police blocked Scenic Caves Road in both directions due to a fatal incident involving a cyclist.
Toronto
-
'Aggressive' bus driver nearly spoiled summer camp outing for kids with epilepsy, organizer says
One of the organizers of a summer camp for children with epilepsy says that his group was recently accosted by a 'rude' and 'aggressive' bus driver in Mississauga.
-
Woman struck, killed by train in Mississauga
A woman has been fatally struck Friday morning by a Canadian Pacific (CP) Railway freight train in the same area where a four-year-old girl was hit and killed by a train over two weeks ago.
-
Man pointed airsoft gun at guard outside Toronto's Chinese consulate: police
A Thornhill man is facing charges after a guard at China’s Toronto consulate reported a rifle was pointed at him earlier this week.
Ottawa
-
One person killed in crash on ramp from Highway 401 to 416
One person is dead after a head-on crash on a ramp from the Highway 401 to Highway 416 south of Ottawa.
-
WATCH LIVE
WATCH LIVE | Five-kilometre section of Queensway closed until Monday
All eastbound and westbound lanes of Hwy. 417 are closed between Metcalfe Street and Carling/Kirkwood Avenues for the replacement of the Booth Street Bridge. The closure will continue until Monday at 6 a.m.
-
What you need to know about road closures, O-Train disruptions in Ottawa this weekend
CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at road closures and service disruptions around Ottawa this weekend.
Kitchener
-
Region of Waterloo planning for when population nears one million
The Region of Waterloo's roadmap toward a population of nearly one million has been updated.
-
Transportation expert weighs in on roundabout safety following collision in Kitchener
Ask people driving and walking in the area of the Erb St. West and Ira Needles Blvd. roundabout, and it’s not hard to find someone with concerns or the story of a close call.
-
Brantford murder suspects arrested
Rorey Hill and Jessica Poreba, who were wanted in the death of a 68-year-old man in Brantford, have been arrested.
London
-
-
Sunny and warm temperatures in London, Ont. forecast
Environment Canada says it will sunny with a high of 24 C on Friday.
-
Cabinet heard of potential 'breakthrough' with 'Freedom Convoy' protesters before Emergencies Act was invoked: documents
The night before the federal government invoked the Emergencies Act in response to the 'Freedom Convoy' protests, the prime minister’s national security adviser told him there was 'a potential for a breakthrough' in Ottawa, court documents show.
Windsor
-
17 tickets handed out during traffic blitz in Chatham-Kent
Chatham-Kent police handed out 17 tickets during a traffic enforcement blitz in the region.
-
Dilkens to make announcement on political intentions
Windsor mayor Drew Dilkens is expected to announce Friday if he plans on running in the municipal election.
-
Sunny and warm temperatures in Windsor-Essex
Environment Canada says it will be sunny on Friday with some foggy patches.
Montreal
-
Police operation underway in Montreal East, public asked to avoid area
Dozens of Montreal police officers are in the city's east end as part of an operation in relation to a recent shooting.
-
'Unparalleled kindness': Montreal North community mourns shooting victim Jayson Colin
The Montreal North community is grieving after 26-year-old Jayson Colin -- a man described as 'generous, affable and involved' -- was killed in a shooting Wednesday night.
-
Family says Quebec health-care system 'failed' them after man denied life-saving liver transplant
The family of a man on Montreal's West Island who is suffering liver failure says he is being denied the chance of a life-saving liver transplant.
Atlantic
-
Two-tiered medical system is inevitable in Canada: Nova Scotia doctor
Retired physician David Kogon says, with private health-care clinics already making their way into Nova Scotia and other provinces like Quebec, a two-tiered system is likely the solution to the current health-care crisis.
-
Canada’s house price plunge to be largest in the Maritimes: report
A report from financial institution Desjardin says Canada’s largest drop in the average home price will likely occur in the Maritimes, where prices skyrocketed during the height of pandemic lockdowns.
-
Newfoundland wildfires could be sign of what climate change has in store for province
A climatologist says the wildfires that have been burning for more than two weeks in central Newfoundland could be a sign of what's to come as the province feels the impacts of climate change.
Winnipeg
-
'This is getting crazy': Manitoba senior fighting MPI over medical suspension of driver's licence
What started as a simple mistake of addresses has led to a nearly year-long fight for an 88-year-old Manitoba man over a medical suspension of his driver's licence – one he fears may have more to do with his age than his health.
-
Winnipeg man drowns at Whiteshell Provincial Park: RCMP
Lac du Bonnet RCMP are investigating after a Winnipeg man drowned in Whiteshell Provincial Park Tuesday.
-
A new virus was found in China, here's what we know
Scientists are keeping an eye on the Langya virus, a new pathogen that appears to have been transmitted from animals to humans in China and causes symptoms similar to COVID-19 or the flu.
Calgary
-
‘Perplexed but not crushed’: Fire erupts at Bonavista Church
Calgary firefighters were called to the Bonavista Church at around 3:20 a.m. on Friday.
-
WEATHER
WEATHER | Kevin Stanfield's forecast: Heat continues for Calgary; storm risk Friday evening
Calgary with another shot at showers, storms Friday afternoon.
-
Sellers 'expecting yesterday's prices': Canadians cope with a correcting housing market
After a series of interest rate hikes implemented by the Bank of Canada, housing markets are now facing a 'significant' correction. CTVNews.ca spoke to Canadians who are now struggling to make the goal of purchasing a home, or selling one, a reality.
Edmonton
-
Voting deadline looms in race to replace Jason Kenney as Alberta UCP leader, premier
It’s deadline day to buy $10 Alberta United Conservative Party memberships to vote for the next leader and premier.
-
Northeast Edmonton roads closed after one-vehicle crash
A portion of 128 Avenue in northeast Edmonton is closed after a one-vehicle crash Friday morning.
-
Josh Classen's forecast: Hot weekend, storm risk Saturday
Sunny with a few clouds and a high close to 30 C in Edmonton this afternoon.
Vancouver
-
Condo owner ordered to pay 16 times more than $800 smoking fine: CRT
A B.C. condo owner who balked at $800 in smoking fines now owes his strata thousands of dollars more after the dispute went to the province’s Civil Resolution Tribunal.
-
Mountie charged with driving without due care after northern B.C. incident
A B.C. Mountie is facing a charge of driving without due care and attention after an incident in the northern part of the province.
-
EXCLUSIVE
EXCLUSIVE | B.C. cop stalked ex-girlfriend for years using police computers, misconduct probe finds
A high-ranking B.C. officer used police resources to conduct at least 92 searches on his ex-girlfriend and her family while stalking her over a period of five years, according to documents exclusively obtained by CTV News.