In response to recent social issues in Prince George’s downtown core, the city established a special task force during Dec. 16’s lengthy council meeting.
Today (Jan. 9), the Select Committee on a Clean, Safe and Inclusive Downtown has officially been formed with Mayor Lyn Hall as its Chair and representatives from eight community organizations.
Five local residents have also been added to the new team, who will help create an agenda on how to address key issues, investigate the main priorities and strategize solutions.
Those appointed community members are Lynne Brown, Paul Burry, David McMullen, Shelby Petersen and Daniel Roy, who spoke at that Dec. 16 council night, confessing to being a former member of Prince George's homeless community.
“I didn’t want to be homeless, but addiction took hold,” Roy said when he addressed the gallery, adding he used to be one of the city’s most prolific offenders, but has been clean off alcohol and drugs for nearly three years.
“These people downtown need people to love them and to reach out to them,” said Roy. “If we can come up with a viable solution for a recovery centre for men and women, I would love that. The stigma around addiction and recovery needs to be broken.”
The committee is required to make recommendations to city council by June 30 and all meetings will be open to the public, with the inaugural meeting taking place later this month.
A date and time is still being determined.
“The City of Prince George wishes to thank the Committee members for their service to the community, and to thank the dozens of other citizens who put their names forward,” reads today's release.
The eight community groups involved include:
- Prince George Chamber of Commerce
- Downtown Prince George
- Gateway Business Improvement Association
- Prince George RCMP
- Northern Health
- BC Housing
- Association Advocating for Women and Children (AWAC)
- Prince George Native Friendship Centre
