BoyleStreetCommunityServices

Boyle Street Community Services proposed and applied for developments permits for an overdose prevention site in the Strathcona area. After the city's Subdivision and Development Appeal Board refused to issue a development permit multiple times, discussion and debate amongst supporters and detractors and being informed that the Alberta government would not fund such a site Boyle Street Community Services has decided to not pursue it any further.

The proposed Boyle Street Community Services (BSCS) Hub Centre in Strathcona/West Ritchie has been put on hold because their development permit has been revoked. The reason the permit was revoked has to do with parking lot security and surveillance issue and could possibly be reapplied for.

People living and operating businesses near the proposed location, have long voiced their concern saying they fear an increase in crime, a decrease in safety and the overall deterioration of the neighbourhood.

Rob Bligh with the Scona Concerned Citizens group says “when you put the people who have consumed illegal street drugs that are untested, unknown in quantity and impact, and then they leave the facility out to the general public, it creates danger, so it’s all about location”.

The Boyle Street Community Services move out of the facility which housed all their services to eight micro drop-ins around the city has been positive. Duplication with other organizations has been reduced and they've considered how they may work more closely in the future to better serve the community.

When Irma Ferchoff was 8 years old she watched her mom knit and within a short time learned to knit. Many years later she's still knitting and now can knit a pair of skates in less than 30 minutes and thus far has knitted more than 500 pairs of skates. The skates she knits are for sale at at Violets, a boutique in Edmonton's Little Italy and all proceeds go to Boyle Street Community Services.

NAIT's culinary program is highly regarded and for over two decades culinary students have prepared a Thanksgiving dinner for homeless people. This year about 30 NAIT culinary students have volunteered to prepare the Thanksgiving ‘' which will be hosted by Boyle Street Community Services and Bissell Centre on Monday, October 9.

Boyle Street Community Services (BSCS) did not renew their lease for the building that has been their home since 1996. As of Tuesday, October 3rd, services and staff will resume operation in five different spots, with the majority of programs will operate out of the Bissell Centre. The remaining programs and services will be offered through one of the other four locations described in the Global News article below.‍