Nancy Morris introduced our speaker for tonight, Mr. Russell Krepart
As Director of Design at MMP Architects, Russell guides the strategic importance of design in the built environment in all of MMP’s major work. In working closely with clients, he manages all functional programming documents, analyzes current workflow models, and liaises with project stakeholders in forming research-based solutions to meet project objectives. In clearly understanding internal and external context issues within project needs, he aligns adjacency program planning, ensuring a comprehensive, clear, and efficient analysis of project components. Understanding each phase of project development, Russell offers continued involvement through the life of the project at all scales of detail to ensure consistent design language, efficiency and vision planning.
The Bruce Oake Recovery Centre is to be located at 255 Hamilton Ave., Winnipeg. The community rink at the site has been closed for an extended period of time. The rink size is below minimum size and the structure is deficient. The land has been declared surplus as of 2010, contingent on a rink being built elsewhere in the city. This occurred in 2015. It would cost the city $6 million to build up to current standards at the Hamilton Ave. site.
Surplus city property can be dealt with two ways;
- Expression of Interest from general public. For a proposal to be deemed good, there must be an economic or other gain for the city.
- Province requests the property.
Two years ago, in 2017, the process began. At the time there was an opiate crisis gripping the city. Since then, the trouble drug has changed to Meth. The province has asked the city to transfer the property. The process is;
-A formal Arrangement of Transfer
-Apply for rezoning, application has just been completed.
The community was alarmed with this application. They indicated that they were concerned with a loss of green space and increasing risk of crime in the neighborhood. The Assiniboine Memorial Curling Rink is beside the old rink. They were concerned about the possible loss of parking spaces. At the start of the consultation period, some in the community were saying that people with addictions deserve to be in industrial areas.
Maps were shown to the community indicating the location of other recovery centres in other cities as they related to single family homes, businesses, green spaces and industrial land;
- Fresh Start in Calgary
- Edgewood in Nanaimo
- Tamarack recovery Centre in Winnipeg – West Broadway area
- Simon House in Calgary - 5,000 people have gone through this centre and not a single police report regarding any of the residents. They help in the community.
There have been four public engagements;
- 400 people to the first meeting. They were SO angry.
- 200 people at the second meeting. They were more educated about the project, so less angry people.
- 200 people at the third meeting. They appreciated the process that was being done to include the community in the planning.
- 50 people at the fourth meeting. This was the City of Winnipeg hearing. Some were there in support, others opposed (the same that opposed all along).
Most questions were about the safety and security of the residents. There is a 56% success rate in a facility such as this. They are welcome to come back to the recovery centre if they feel the need. There is programming all day. Staff are present 24/7. Most programs are for ~ 6 weeks. The individual must feel that they have the capacity to find strength to get back into the community. They may remain as residents as long as they feel they need the support.
The photos shown indicated that the new structure appears to take up the same visual footprint as the old structure regarding land use. The drawings show that the structure to be built is actually moved to the south on the land, opening up more available green space.
The land is zoned for Parks and Recreation. The re-zoning will make it so that a developer could have built 130 condos on the same property. This is a 50 bed Recovery Centre. This means much less disruption of the community. They have asked the City of Winnipeg to put restrictions on the size of the centre in the re-zoning application. The centre cannot increase in size over time. The parking lot has a common access road with the curling rink and plenty of extra parking is available for the curling rink patrons.
The community was concerned with the loss of a local recreation centre. The foundation has added a public access door to the side of the gym with washrooms and change rooms for the public. Community groups can book use of the gym.
The basement of the centre will have a donated clothing room in it. This is for the residents to be able to dress appropriately for job interviews etc when they are getting ready to move back to the community. There is also a laundry room and a family movie room. Family are invited to be at the facility as much as they want to be.
The main floor has classrooms, physician room, lounge spaces, dining, therapy room, commercial kitchen, office spaces as well as a screened patio room and outside patio at the front of the building. Not hidden away at the back.
Upstairs has 24 double occupancy rooms as well as two single rooms. The singles will be for long term residents. There are also numerous common areas.
This is a 30,000 sqft building. The scale and type of building materials is very important. All effort is made to try and make the structure feel like house construction, not institutional.
Fresh Start, in Calgary, has a major donor from the Flames organization. The residents get different colored jerseys to hang in the gym area to indicate milestones in their recovery. Looking forward to the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre having something similar, hanging in the gym here in Winnipeg.
Q/A
1.-Jeff Kulikowsky wanted to know the staffing levels that will be present.
A.- One staff member for every 2 residents during the day. There will be 3 shifts during a 24-hour day. At night there will be 4 staff members present. There will be video surveillance inside and out 24 hours / day. The grounds will have super-lighting.
2.-Mark Labossiere queried what the process is for being accepted as a resident.
A.- No referral is required. Must show up sober. This is not a detox facility. The resident has no financial responsibilities. There is a Police background check.
3.- Bob Eilers requested information on any fencing around the property.
A.- There will be a four-foot-tall, ornamental fence along the back of the building property close to the structure. The men can come and go as they please. There will be regular drug test screening.
4.- Are they fundraising now?
A.- Yes, Bruce Oake died of an opium overdose. His parents (Scott Oake, sports broadcaster) & brother, Darcy Oake, a world renowned illusionist are the driving force behind the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre. Darcy Oake has raised $400,000 himself. There have been golf tournaments plus other private donations.
There is an overdose death in Manitoba every 2.7 days. The centre has yet to get through a Community Committee Hearing as well as the City of Winnipeg process including a full council vote.
Eira Braun-Labossiere thanked Russell Krepart on behalf of the Charleswood Rotary Club for the wonderful, fantastic presentation. Russell was advised that a donation in his name would be made to ShelterBox.
