New Westminster, B.C., council has approved an 18-month extension for an overdose prevention site on Begbie Street. The decision was made after a divided discussion among councillors and the community.
The site, operated by Starship Health Contact Centre in partnership with the Purpose Society and Fraser Health, will continue its work to provide supervised consumption services. Council also required Fraser Health to address ongoing community concerns as part of the permit extension.
The council received 32 letters from local residents, with roughly half supporting the extension and half opposing it. Supporters emphasized the site’s role in saving lives, while critics linked it to crime and disruptive behavior in the surrounding neighborhood.
Mayor Patrick Johnstone expressed strong support for the site, highlighting its value to the community. He noted the centre provides life-saving care that the city cannot afford to lose.
The council vote extended the site’s permit for 18 months or until another overdose prevention service becomes operational, whichever comes first. When the council first approved the site in 2021, the motion was unanimous.
Johnstone noted that community support has shifted since then, partly due to changes in council members and drug use patterns. While the centre accommodates both injection and oral drug consumption, most users in New Westminster now inhale drugs. Many do so near the centre, which has raised public concerns.
“They want to be near a place where life-saving care is available, so they spend time nearby,” Johnstone said. “This has created concerns for residents and businesses.”
Some letters highlighted safety issues. The Community Living Society, which supports adults with developmental disabilities, said staff and clients often feel unsafe near the site. They reported violent incidents and theft, expressing opposition to extending the permit.
Despite these concerns, Johnstone said a new inhalation-focused centre is planned for a different location. Meanwhile, keeping the current site open is critical.
The mayor emphasized that the centre’s impact goes beyond supervised drug use. It has connected more than 1,000 people to health services, including detox programs. Closing the site, he said, would likely lead to more deaths and fail to solve broader urban health challenges.
Overdose prevention sites have sparked debate across Metro Vancouver. Richmond faced hundreds of protesters when a proposed drug consumption site opened last year, and the City of Vancouver previously relocated a site in Yaletown due to community concerns.
New Westminster’s decision reflects a balance between public safety and life-saving interventions. As the city moves forward with plans for a new inhalation centre, the extended permit ensures continuous support for vulnerable residents.
