Sault outreach program may be expanding
An outreach program that focuses on Sault Ste. Marie's main drag could be expanding its borders.
The Downtown Ambassador Program started in June, part of a partnership between the Canadian Mental Health Association, the Downtown Association, and the City of Sault Ste. Marie.
David Cartner is one of five CMHA workers who travels the city's downtown, distributing food, harm reduction supplies and connecting those on the street with resources to help them better their situations.
The staff receive frequent calls from the roughly 200 businesses in the area seeking help for a range of reasons.
“We are a contact for them if something is happening outside of their store," Cartner said.
"For instance if they find needles on the ground, drug paraphernalia, or perhaps maybe there might be a person that is in need. They can call us and we will come down.”
Salvatore Marchese, executive director of the Downtown Association, said the program is exactly what the area needs.
“There’s a lot of positive feedback coming in," said Marchese.
"Both from our merchants who know there is somebody they can call when someone’s in distress, and … from the people that are out there on the ground working these shifts, saying they’re connecting people that just didn’t know there were resources for them.”
Annette Katajamaki, executive director of CMHA Sault Ste. Marie, said they are hiring four workers to cover the Downtown Ambassador Program.
“One of the hardest things that folks with a mental illness and or an addiction issue have is reaching out and asking for help," said Katajamaki.
"So this stops them from having to physically go somewhere -- we’re going to physically show up where they are.”
The success of the program in its first two months is turning heads at city hall. An expansion beyond the downtown will be discussed when the next council deliberates the 2023 budget.
It's something that Cartner, and the rest of the partners, support.
"Addiction doesn't just start at Pim Street and go to Gore Street," he said.
Businesses or individuals in the downtown looking for help from the Downtown Ambassador Program can call 705-090-8483.
The program runs from 3-7 p.m. weekdays, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekends.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.