New Addictions Facility Opens in Thompson to Serve Northern Manitoba

Manitoba News Release
June 12, 2009

THOMPSON-A new, $9.3-million Thompson-based facility will strengthen addictions services and treatment for northern Manitobans, Healthy Living Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Steve Ashton announced here today at the official grand opening of the facility.”We are committed to breaking the chains of addictions and reducing the cost of addictions to the individual, families and communities,” said Irvin-Ross. “Our investments in this facility and its programs will ensure that people in the north continue to have access to quality addictions treatment in their region.”

Highlights of the new facility and its services include:

. short- and long-term residential treatment programs;

. community-based day programs including assessment, counselling, prevention, education and regional administration;

. treatment programs for clients living at home as well in the residential program;

. a cafeteria, learning centre, medical assessment, fitness and common room to supplement the treatment areas; and

. being well placed in a wooded area in the community with ready access to the outdoors.

“This facility has been a long time in the making and we are very pleased that the provincial government saw this as a priority and has turned our ‘dreams’ into a reality for our clients,” said John Borody, chief executive officer of the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba (AFM). “During the design of this building we had four major goals: to ensure the space met the needs of our clients, that it had a homey atmosphere rather than an institutional feel, that it was culturally sensitive and was environmentally friendly. By all accounts we met all four objectives with the help of our community, the provincial government and our partners in this project.”

In 2008, a total of 1,140 clients participated in addictions programs in Thompson.

“This is yet another example of our commitment to meeting the goals of the Northern Development Strategy and investing in services and infrastructure in northern Manitoba,” said Ashton. “The new facility builds on important work we’ve already done and will guide future investments in Thompson and the region.”

The services offered in the new facility will complement other work done by AFM and other health-care workers in the region.

“The close proximity of the new Addictions Foundation of Manitoba facility to the regional facilities will further strengthen the existing partnership that exists between the two organizations,” said Gloria King, chief executive officer of the Burntwood Regional Health Authority. “We look forward to the many more opportunities this will allow the region to work together with AFM.”

The ministers noted that today’s announcement builds on other improvements to mental-health and addictions services in Manitoba including:

. developing a five-point plan called Breaking the Chains of Addictions to lead the province’s adult addiction services;

. investing $2.8 million for mental-health and co munity-based addictions services, in addition to $17.7 million committed in 2005 to expand the province’s mental-health and addictions strategy; and

. creating a multi-agency centre to enhance supports for Manitobans living with addictions and mental-health challenges.

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