Opening of CTS
June 13th, 2022
The Consumption and Treatment Services Site (CTS) opens to the public, fully staffed with a full complement of health and support service professionals.
Establishment of Community Liaison Committee (CLC)
May 2022
To help foster a stronger connection between the agencies working at the CTS and numerous local stakeholders, a Community Liaison Committee (CLC) is struck. Representatives from the neighbourhood, local businesses, agencies, and others are invited to submit an application to be on the committee, which will meet at least on a quarterly basis. June marks the inaugural meeting for the group.
Site Visit Events
May – June 2022
To help acquaint service agencies and the general public with how the new CTS facility will function, numerous site visit events are held. Attendance is strong and the evident support for this service is encouraging.
Health Canada Exemption
May 2022
On May 26th, Fourcast received its exemption from Health Canada. An exemption is a formal document issued that authorizes specific activities with controlled substances or precursor chemicals that would otherwise be illegal. The exemption is required to permit the use of illegal substances at the CTS and it means the facility can open to service users. This three-year exemption represented the final approval for the CTS and removed all conditions. The confirmation meant the CTS could move towards opening by mid-June.
Approval of CTS
2022
In February 2022, the provincial government announced $1.3-million in funding for the 2021-22 fiscal year including a one-time funding of $55,000 to launch a safe consumption and treatment site at 220 Simcoe St., site of the former Greyhound Bus Station.
Opening of the Opioid Response Hub
January 2022
With initial renovations complete, the Opioid Response Hub could offer harm reduction supplies to clients and establish a headquarters for the Mobile Support Outreach Response Team (MSORT), a federal-funded effort. As pandemic protocols were still in place, only limited addiction counselling and withdrawal support staff could occupy the space.
Fourcast Takes Lead on Application
Winter 2022
At PARN’s request, Fourcast assumes the lead applicant role for the initiative. PARN continues to play the role of key partner in the project.
Light The Way to $160k Campaign
Fall 2021
A collaborative effort between Fourcast and the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough (CFGP), the Light The Way campaign was launched in September 2021 to help raise funds to renovate the space at 220 Simcoe to prepare for the prospect of the CTS being approved, but also as a straightforward services and support hub during that approval process. It helped to accelerate the opening date of the facility.
Federal Exemption Approved
June 2021
On June 15th Fourcast announces it has received the Federal Exemption to operate a supervised consumption site at 220 Simcoe St.
Establishment of MSORT
2021 – Ongoing
MSORT is a collaborative pilot project serving people in Peterborough City and County with the intent to reduce overdoses and minimize the risk of harms related to overdose and substance use, especially opioids. The project is designed to enhance our community’s response to the opioid/drug poisoning/overdose crisis, helping to fill gaps in the absence of a Consumption and Treatment Services Site (CTS), and will complement a CTS, should one be approved for Peterborough.
CTS Application Submitted
December 2020
Peterborough Drug Strategy partners announce that applications have been submitted to gain exemption from federal drug laws as well as to the provincial government for operational funding for the CTS site.
220 Simcoe Street Purchased
Fall 2020
The former Greyhound bus station at 220 Simcoe Street is purchased by property developer, Kevin MacDonald. By October the Fourcast signs a five-year lease to use the location as an opioid response hub. There are intentions to make applications to operate a CTS on site.
CTS Community Consultations
Fall 2020
Community consultations regarding the location of the Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) site – particularly the proposed 220 Simcoe Site – drawn an active and engaged community response.
Read the Community Consultation Report (PDF of Report)
CTS Community Engagement Survey Report Published
On December 12, 2019, the Peterborough Drug Strategy published the results of a community engagement survey conducted online throughout the month of November.
Read the Community Engagement Survey Report (PDF of Report)
DBIA Presentation
On November 20, 2019, Peterborough Drug Strategy Chairperson, Peter Williams, delivered a presentation and update to members of the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) on the status of the collaboratively-led effort to establish a Consumption and Treatment Services site in downtown Peterborough.
Opioid Summit
2019
A summit jointly organized and hosted by Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien and Selwyn Deputy-Mayor Sherry Senis discussing the opioid crisis was held at Market Hall on July 11, 2019. It was moderated by Kim Dolan (PARN) with eight panelists that included experts in the field and those with lived experience.
Consumption and Treatment Services Steering Committee
2019
MPP Dave Smith convenes a committee made up of community partners for an initial meeting on June 29, 2019 on submitting an application for Consumption and Treatment Services in Peterborough. A Steering Committee and working groups made up of various community agencies was assembled to support the application process, including the creation of a community consultation and engagement plan.
DBIA Naloxone Training and Distribution
2019
In Summer 2019, the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) partnered with Peterborough Public Health and Harm Reduction Works @ PARN to provide naloxone kits and training businesses located in the downtown.
Public Meeting on Opioid Crisis
2019
A public meeting on the opioid crisis, co-hosted by Ashburnham Ward councillors Gary Baldwin and Keith Riel, was held at the Lions’ Community Centre in East City on June 12, 2019. The speakers were Peggy Shaughnessy (Whitepath Consulting and Counselling Services), Kim Dolan (PARN), and Tim Farquharson (Peterborough Police Services).
Statement of Unity
2019
On June 4, 2019, PDS released a Statement of Unity supporting urgent action to address the growing opioid crisis in Peterborough. Initially signed by PDS partners, the Statement was recirculated in November 2019 with a goal of increasing support in the broader community.
Community Planning Conversation
2019
On March 14, 2019, a community planning conversation on responding to the impact of Peterborough not having Consumption and Treatment Services was held with PDS and community partners. Working groups to explore interventions around safe supply, supervised consumption services, and mobile harm reduction services were formed following this meeting.
Overdose Prevention Site Application
2018
In 2018, PARN allocated time and resources to develop an application for a Overdose Prevention Site (OPS) in Peterborough but were ultimately unable to find a property to host the site. Following the 2018 provincial election, the OPS model was replaced by Consumption and Treatment Services, requiring a new application and community engagement process.
Coordinated Access System
2018-Present
In 2018 a group of local agencies designed the Peterborough Coordinated Access System with a goal of preventing and reducing homelessness and providing streamlined access to available supports.
Needle Drop Boxes
2018
Several needle drop boxes were installed in downtown Peterborough as part of a needle exchange program coordinated by Peterborough Public Health, PARN, CMHA HKPR, and the City of Peterborough.
Selwyn Outreach Centre — Understanding the Opioid Crisis events
In Fall 2018, in response to growing concern about the opioids, the Selwyn Outreach Centre organized two events attended by over 500 people to help build community understanding around the opioid crisis.
Opioid Early Warning Taskforce
2018-Present
An Opioid Early Warning Taskforce consisting of key community partners and led by Peterborough Public Health is established to provide ongoing surveillance and community alerts in response to drug-related harms.
Peterborough RAAM Clinic
2018-Present
Peterborough Regional Heath Centre (PRHC) opened the Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) clinic on March 5, 2018, which provides expedited, barrier-free treatment for patients who are addicted to alcohol or opioids.
Understanding Opioids Training Sessions for Helping Professionals
2018-Present
Building on the outcomes of a previous project, the Peterborough Drug Strategy has partnered with Public Health, PARN, and FourCAST to provide training sessions on recognizing and responding to an opioid overdose, concepts that impact opioid use, related harms, and the scope of opioid-related issues within the Canadian and local context.
Opioid Overdose Response Training for Bar and Restaurant Workers
2018
PDS, in partnership with Public Health and PARN, ran Opioid Overdose Response Training for Bars and Restaurants on March 20th and April 30th in 2018. In these sessions, bar and restaurant workers were trained in how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose with a harm reduction lens.
Drug Awareness Week
2018
The Peterborough Police Service, Public Health, and PDS launched Drug Awareness Week in Peterborough on Tuesday, February 6, 2018 at Westmount Pharmacy by reminding the community to keep the conversation going.
Peterborough Regional Overdose Preparedness Project
2017-2018
The Peterborough Police Service with PDS and other supporting organizations received funding in July 2017 from the Proceeds of Crime Front-Line Policing program to support the harm reduction work already happening in our community.
Drug Awareness Week
2017
The Peterborough Police Service, Public Health, and PDS launched Drug Awareness Week in Peterborough on Tuesday, February 13, 2017 at a local community pharmacy as an opportunity to have serious conversations about substance use.
Emergency Department Naloxone Access Project (EDNA)
2016-2017
The Peterborough Police Service with PDS and other supporting organizations received funding in August 2016 from the Proceeds of Crime Front-Line Policing program to work with the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) to implement a naloxone distribution kit program through the hospital’s emergency department.
A Question of Care
2015-Present
A Question of Care was launched in 2015 as an awareness campaign and training initiative for helping professionals in Peterborough. It continues today as a local capacity-building initiative focused on building and strengthening skills, knowledge, and awareness to address the intersections between trauma, stigma, substance use, and mental illness by creating space for mutual learning, respectful dialogue, and fostering collaboration between professionals.
Peterborough Overdose Prevention Program
2013-Present
The Peterborough Overdose Prevention Program (POPP) evolved from a shared commitment to reduce harm associated with the use of opioids in Peterborough City and County among many stakeholders. The program has changed over the years in response to local decisions and provincial policy and/or programming changes, but has always been supported by a Steering Committee. Most recently, the mandate of the program has expanded to include collaborative oversight over the distribution of naloxone through community agencies.
Youth Engagement Project
2013-2015
Between 2013- and 2015, the Peterborough Drug Strategy successfully implemented several community-based projects designed to address substance use among youth.
Challenges, Beliefs, and Changes Program
2010-Present
Challenges, Beliefs, Change connects senior high school students to grade 8 feeder school classrooms to facilitate discussions about substance use, internet safety and making healthy choices. Most of this information is conveyed through hands-on activities that are engaging, interactive and interesting to both the facilitators and the students. The students are accompanied by the school liaison officer and student success teacher from the high school, who are responsible for providing support to the peer leaders.
Opioid Safety Working Group
2010-2017
The Opioid Safety Task Force was an interdisciplinary committee of representatives from across the local healthcare and social services sector who came together to provide a collaborative response to opioid use and related harms in the region.
Medication Take-Back Campaign
2010-Present
Medication Take-Back Peterborough launches in Peterborough as part of a provincial program that allows an individual to return unused prescription medication to any pharmacy for FREE.
Peterborough Drug Strategy
2009-Present
The Peterborough Drug Strategy (PDS) was established in 2009 by four partnering organizations: Peterborough Public Health, PARN – Your Community AIDS Resource Network, Four Counties Addiction Service Team, and Peterborough Police Service. These organizations were united in their view that collaboration around how addiction is addressed in our community is crucial to supporting the needs of individuals who use substances as well as their families and support people.
The Peterborough Drug Strategy builds on existing expertise and personal experiences in Peterborough, while also incorporating best practices, research, and lessons learned from other cities in Canada and internationally. The strategy includes representation from all groups and addresses both legal and illegal drugs.
The drug strategy currently works towards raising awareness, reducing stigma, and engaging the community while moving ahead with select recommendations for action and mobilizing change.
4 Counties Harm Reduction Coalition
2008-2012
The 4 Counties Harm Reduction Coalition (4CHRC) was founded in 2008 to promote the health, safety and dignity of individuals and communities affected by the continuum of drug and/or alcohol use in Haliburton, Peterborough and Northumberland Counties and in the City of Kawartha Lakes.
Found Needle Protocol
2005-Present
During the summer of 2005, the Four Counties Needle Exchange Coalition, which had been in operation since 1997, reported an increase in the number and severity of complaints of found needles on both public and private properties. The Health Hazards program staff agreed to facilitate consultations with representatives from: the City and County of Peterborough, municipal and provincial police forces, the Four Counties Needle Exchange Coalition, Emergency Medical Services, and the Peterborough County-City Health Unit, with the goal of developing a community-wide protocol for the referral, safe handling, and disposal of found used-needles and/or sharps.
Funding of Community Withdrawal Management Program
2021 – Ongoing