The Sheldon Chumir safe consumption site was launched as a pilot to address the opioid crisis. Years later, the results speak for themselves. Instead of helping families heal, the site has spread open drug use into nearby communities, crime has gone up, and overdoses keep rising despite millions in funding.
These sites have failed to deliver real results. Addiction is still high, families are still hurting, and now neighbourhoods across Calgary are paying the price. What started downtown has reached Ward 14. Police are stretched thin with drug and mental health calls, and promised PACT (Police and Crisis Team) units have not materialized.
We cannot sit back and watch this get worse. It is time to close the Sheldon Chumir site and focus on solutions that bring recovery and keep families together. Calgary must work with the Province and Ottawa to:
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Expand treatment and detox: Build more treatment and detox centres with same-day intake so people are not stuck waiting for help.
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Strengthen mental health supports: Put more PACT units and crisis care teams on the street to take pressure off police and give people the help they need.
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Invest in recovery programs: Shift funding into rehab, job training, and housing supports that give people a path back into their families and communities.
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Protect neighbourhoods: Keep streets safe by stopping open drug use, reducing crime, and restoring confidence in public spaces.
Calgary families need real recovery, not more failed experiments.
