Calgary's Safeworks drug site shuts down after years of controversy
Calgary's Safeworks drug consumption site at the Sheldon M. Chumir Centre will close at the end of June, marking the end of a nearly decade-long fight for residents in the Beltline neighbourhood. The closure, confirmed by the provincial government, comes after years of complaints about public disorder, safety concerns, and the visible impact of drug addiction in the area.
Rick Bell, a columnist for the Calgary Herald, described the scene as a 'horror show' that residents will not miss. 'There is no fanfare as a fight against injustice lasting the worst part of a decade comes to an end,' Bell wrote. 'It is the end of a battle against a failed experiment cooked up by leftie politicians and clueless self-styled experts, an experiment blowing up in the faces of a Calgary neighbourhood just wanting to be left alone.'
Impact on the Beltline neighbourhood
Residents reported frequent disturbances, including addicts screaming, jumping, and appearing hostile. Bell recalled a man who peeled skin from his calf with a knife and another who yelled at a tree in Calgary's oldest park, bloodying his fist. 'What do ya think you’re lookin’ at?' the man shouted, adding expletives before walking away.
Many individuals were seen walking bent over at the waist, a condition Bell attributed to drug use. Locals grew accustomed to the chaos, with convenience stores posting handmade signs telling druggies to keep out and coffee shops keeping doors locked even during business hours. Police patrols and ambulances were constant, and school children played 'Count the Syringes' as a grim game.
A local barber tried to recall happier days when people could eat lunch in the park without fear. Residents expressed frustration with what they saw as a gutless city council that refused to take a stand despite repeated pleas.
Political and community reactions
The closure of Safeworks has been welcomed by many in the community. The Smith government announced the shutdown earlier this year, with the site officially closing on June 30. 'Good riddance! Smith government closing Calgary's hated drug site June 30,' Bell wrote in a previous column.
However, some addiction experts have warned that the closure could displace users without addressing the root causes of addiction. According to a report by the Calgary Herald, 'As sun sets on Safeworks drug site, solutions to addiction crisis remain elusive.' The article noted that while the site's closure ends a contentious chapter, the broader addiction crisis in Calgary continues.
Bell concluded that the end of the drug site was 'one of those things in life where you won’t really believe it until you see it with your own eyes.' He added that the fight was worth it, despite being slimed by social media mouthpieces and ignored by authorities.
