Baldy Hughes Addiction Treatment Centre and Therapeutic Community executive director Marshall Smith has left his position, effective Thursday.
Smith said his sudden departure was a mutual decision by himself and the board of directors. Smith served as the executive director of Baldy Hughes for over two years.
"The board and I have made a decision that I will be moving on, and this is the time to do that," Smith said Thursday. "It's been something the board and I have been discussing for awhile. The day has to come, and today was the day."
Smith said it is better for the approximately 65 residents of the treatment centre for him to leave quickly, rather than drag out his departure.
"It's like ripping off a Band-Aid. Better to do it quickly, then they can deal with it and move on," he said. "I like to end things in good times. This is a high time and I've decided, along with the board, that this is the time for me to move on."
Smith said he intends to stay in Prince George and already has another project underway.
"It wouldn't be appropriate for me to continue my role at Baldy Hughes while working on another project," he said. "I am a project guy. I'm not someone to sit in the same chair for 15 years running something. I did the design and development of Baldy Hughes. I worked on the 2010 Olympic bid when I was in government."
Smith wouldn't comment on what that project is, but said there is a need for women's addiction treatment options in the North.
"The time has come for a women's facility in northern B.C.," he said.
He also hinted he is not done with politics. Smith was the northern campaign manager for Liberal leadership candidate Kevin Falcon, and was a legislative assistance in Victoria in the early 2000s.
Former Vancouver MLA Loren Mayencourt founded Baldy Hughes in 2007. Mayencourt recruited Smith to lead the facility because of his experience as a recovering drug addict and alcoholic.
Baldy Hughes intake administrator Antony Francis confirmed Smith left the facility, but declined to comment further.
Kevin England, chairman of the New Hope Recovery Society which operates Baldy Hughes, could not be reached for comment as of press time.
A former director of the New Hope Recovery Society said Smith's desire to leave the facility was news to him.
"This is extremely fresh information, it just happened at noon," Sentes said. "I don't have enough of the details. I'd rather it come directly from Marshall."
