B.C. pauses downtown Vancouver overdose prevention site after community pushback

An overdose prevention site planned for downtown Vancouver is now on hold, and it's unclear when and where another will open.

B.C.’s health minister says plans for a overdose prevention site in downtown Vancouver are on hold following opposition from city leaders and local businesses.

“We’re to reset the table, invite all the partners back, and we’re going to work collaboratively on a solution that helps provide the services that we need,” Josie Osborne said.

The decision marks a shift in direction for the province, which had been moving ahead with the site before facing mounting criticism.

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim welcomed the decision to halt the facility at 900 Helmcken, saying the reversal “shows what’s possible when a community stands together.”

At a news conference joined by business owners and downtown stakeholders, Sim pointed to safety concerns and a lack of consultation as key reasons for opposing the site.

Tourism leaders have also raised concerns about the impact on Vancouver’s image.

“Visitors are increasingly commenting on open drug use, visible street disorder, aggressive behavior, and concerns about personal safety in Vancouver’s downtown,” said Royce Chwin, CEO of Destination Vancouver.

Some business owners say they were not adequately consulted before the site was proposed and are calling for a greater role in future decisions.

“I have never asked for this service to be eliminated. I am asking on behalf of every woman-owned business in this block to be treated as a stakeholder,” said Denis Meikle, a business owner in the area. “That is not a radical request. That is the bare minimum and we deserve it.”

Osborne said in a statement to CTV News on Wednesday that there is currently no planned date for the site to open.

Despite the pause, the minister emphasized that overdose prevention services remain essential.

“They are critical lifesaving services. We need them. But we need to do this in a way where partners are at the table and understand how it will be managed. What the mitigation is for, impacts that people are concerned about,” Osborne said.

Advocates caution that delays could come at a cost.

“The longer that we delay things, you know, the more people do die,” said Guy Felicella, a harm reduction and recovery advocate.