More businesses are calling the downtown overdose prevention site a public nuisance, after a teen overdosed in the Dairy Queen last week.
Mayor Kermit Dahl spoke about the incident at council’s October 26 meeting, and said it must have been traumatic for the young staff working that evening.
I couldn’t imagine being at potentially your very first job you’d ever take, and having to deal with someone who’s younger than you, in your first job, overdosing in the restaurant while you’re at work,” he said.
The overdose allegedly happened last Thursday night, just before closing, and involved a 13-year-old. We have reached out to RCMP for details.
Meanwhile another area business, Lordco Auto Parts, has joined Home Hardware, Dairy Queen, and other downtown businesses calling for the Vancouver Island Mental Health Society’s overdose prevention site at 1330 Dogwood to be declared a public nuisance. The mayor and council haven’t taken that step yet, but thanked the businesses for speaking up, and say they are working with the society and Island Health to find a solution.
Until then, council has decided to withdraw the property tax exemption for the site as a punitive measure.
