Prasad Panda, Mike Ellis, Adriana LaGrange, Jason Stephen, and Mayor Ken Johnston (in order) place shovels in the ground, marking the start of construction for Red Deer's reovery community for addictions treatment and mental health challenges.

By Alessia Proietti

Shovels in the ground

Red Deer recovery community begins construction today

Nov 19, 2021 | 5:05 PM

The sun shined bright for Red Deerians today as officials from provincial and municipal government gathered for the ground-breaking of a 75-bed recovery community, a residential treatment centre for addiction and mental health challenges.

The size of a football field, the 10-acre parcel of land for the site is located near the Chiles Industrial Park off Highway 2A. A more remote and rural area of Red Deer, officials say the location was chosen precisely for its distance from the downtown core but still in proximity to municipal and community services.

“With a location identified earlier this year and a contractor now in place, the Red Deer recovery community is moving steadily forward. We appreciate the collaboration of multiple levels of government and central Albertans for their support of this life-saving facility,” said Prasad Panda, Minister of Infrastructure.

According to officials, recovery communities, also known as therapeutic communities, differ from other treatment programs in that they revolve primarily around gradual and holistic approaches. Through clinical and peer interventions, the ongoing process is said to lead to cognitive changes that aim at improving a person’s overall well-being such as social relationships and employment skills.

Clients can live in the community for three months to a year.

University Magazine

RDP ranked 17th among top culinary schools in Canada

1h ago

JANUARY 21 ONLY

Ponoka starting Christmas tree pick up in January

17h ago

Christmas and new years

Wednesday cart collection rescheduled due to statutory holidays

18h ago

“People struggling with addiction and mental health challenges in Red Deer need a place where they can pursue long-term recovery. I’m proud that our government is ensuring that, through a holistic approach, the people of Red Deer have access to treatment and recovery,” said Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Education and MLA for Red Deer-North.

While these treatment centres are used in more than 65 countries, officials say it is the first in Alberta and fully funded by the provincial government.

The recovery community has been seen by some as conflicting with the city’s safe injection site, but for Mike Ellis, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, this is not just an added aid, but an end goal for those who seek help.

“Addiction itself is actually very complex; it’s so complex that there’s no one single solution to this and there is a role to play for opioid dependence sites. We have a responsibility as a society, as a government to ensure that people don’t die, but it’s part of what is known as the continuum of care. Really the objective here is to get people into detox and treatment and recovery,” he said. “But I will tell you this; we will be working with Mayor Johnston and of course his team because we want to do what’s best for the people of Red Deer.”

A modular construction plan, the community is expected to be completed by fall of 2022, creating 136 jobs, organized by the construction vendor Synergy Projects Ltd. Once operational, an estimated 100 jobs will be created for the recovery community.

The treatment communities were promised to Albertans in July 2020, with the provincial government committing $25 million to build five across Alberta, for a total of 400 beds. Red Deer’s construction contract added to approximately $20-million, plus the initial $5-million investment from Alberta Recovery Plan.

Apart from Red Deer, a location has also been chosen in Lethbridge and Blood River this fall.

“I’m excited the Red Deer location is the first recovery community in Alberta to get shovels in the ground. Helping people end their reliance on substances affects everyone around them as well as the community as a whole. I can’t wait to see the recovery community in action,” said Jason Stephan, MLA for Red Deer-South

Officials note Alberta’s Recovery Plan also allotted a $140-million investment over four years and was allocated to addiction and mental health-related prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery resources. Some include an additional 4,000 new publicly funded addiction treatment spaces and the elimination of its daily user fees, a new patient matching tool titled Recovery Access Alberta, and other services to reduce harm.

“This recovery community is more than simply a building – it is a symbol of hope that our community and province desperately needs. Helping people enter recovery from addiction and lead a more fulfilling, productive life helps us all. Thank you to the provincial government for adding this support to the City of Red Deer,” said Red Deer Mayor Ken Johnston.

Albertans can contact 811 Health Link or Alberta 211 for information about addiction treatments and supports available throughout the province.

If struggling with opioid use, they can call the Virtual Opioid Dependency Program any day of the week at 1-844-383-7688 to access same-day treatment.