| Calgary gets drug court
Calgary’s first drug court will open its doors on May 10. The drug court will allow drug addicts who have committed crimes an alternative to jail time if they agree to intensive drug addiction treatment.
Mark Tyndale, chair of the Calgary Drug Treatment Court Committee, says drug court will be a 15- to 18-month program, including intensive residential drug treatment. Those accepted into the program will have to regularly report to a judge.
Tyndale says the drug court will likely accept addicts who would be facing a jail sentence "in the range of two years. We want them facing serious charges so they have incentive to opt into what is otherwise a major commitment of time," he says.
Participants will also be assessed to ensure they are psychologically ready for the rigorous program. The focus will be on people with addictions to methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin and other opiates, says Tyndale.
"I think for the individuals involved it will make a tremendous difference," he says. "It’ll ideally break this cycle of committing offences, getting jailed and then getting back out again and having limited options and very little hope. (This) of course repeats the cycle of getting back into substance abuse and the substance abuse leads to… committing offences ultimately to pay for that addiction," he says. He also says drug courts have proven to be extremely effective in reducing recidivism rates.
The City of Calgary will provide $110,000 in funding by 2008. The province will fund the judge, court staff and the cost of the addiction treatment. Tyndale says the drug court committee is hoping to receive federal funding in the future to keep the court up and running. The federal government has provided funding for drug courts in Regina, Ottawa, Winnipeg and Edmonton. Vancouver and Toronto also have drug courts. Calgary’s application was rejected.
Protect the environment by climbing Calgary Tower
Albertans will run around the base of the Calgary Tower and then climb the 802 stairs of the tower as many times as they can stand on April 21 as part of an Alberta Wilderness Association fundraiser.
The event begins at 8 a.m. and includes musicians, face painters, wildlife mascots and a Wild Alberta Expo with displays on the province’s wild places and the environmental groups that fight to protect them. The event will also include documentary films that explore environmental issues in Alberta.
For more information on the event go to www.climbforwilderness.ca.
Car-sharing minivan for Forest Lawn
Calgary Alternative Transportation Co-operative (CATCO) has added a minivan in Greater Forest Lawn to its fleet of car-sharing vehicles. The United Way of Calgary funded the minivan to assist economically challenged Calgarians access affordable transportation. Greater Forest Lawn residents will be able to volunteer at local community organizations in order to fund their car sharing deposit. For more information go to www.carsharing.ca. |
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