I have listened attentively to the media and read every publication of the Citizen newspaper. The repeated mention of Haldi Road comes to me as unfortunate because if one takes time to consider all the demographics of the proposed recovery centre it shouldn't be so troubling for the locals.
We have two vacant closed schools in our neighbourhood. The one is not so bad up-keep wise but the other one right on the Hart Highway is a disappointing mess and looking much like a shanty town area.
With the Haldi Road School, it is a nicer newer looking building and property. In regards to the lagoon not being adequate, in my opinion, isn't correct. In my 40 years plus, I have been extensively involved in the excavation business and have found them to work quite well. If Haldi had one hundred-plus students and families coming and going, plus staff, I think would be more load on the water and sewer than a 30-bed facility. As one person has mentioned in a previous article in the newspaper, recovering ladies, I think, try harder than most to succeed. I think it could be part of the program to have the ladies taking part in gardening, planting flowers and yard maintenance. It would make them feel better doing something of importance and making it a nicer place to live during their recovery. As to the criminal element, like any neighbourhood, questionable people are in all parts of our city.
The main thing the Haldi neighbours could do at this point, is to make sure that the landlord runs a clean ship and maintains the property well and have that in writing.
Given the chance, this proposed centre could bring long-term stability to the area and would function quite well and could be a good example of people and the community working together.
Stan Wheeldon
Prince George
