The Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake is has removed the benches by the intersection at the east end of town amid ongoing safety concerns.
The benches have long been a sore spot in the community. Public intoxication, urination, defecation and littering are some of the problematic behaviours that have been identified there. RCMP and ambulances are frequently present. Mayor Henry Wiebe said the Village has consulted the RCMP and local First Nations and concluded that the behaviour at the bench is unsafe.
"The Village crews are going to remove the benches and replace them with concrete flowerpots," Wiebe said to Black Press Media in an emailed statement just prior to removal of the benches on the morning of June 13. "We realize this is not going to solve the problem but hopefully it will help with the safety aspect of it until we find solutions to deal with some of the other issues."
Community members have been raising the alarm about the area around the benches since last year, if not longer.
"I don鈥檛 know when it became acceptable to drink in public, right by the police station to boot," wrote one community member on Facebook in 2024.
"I don't know why the welcome sign is such an amazing spot to do that on full display of everyone in town," another community member commented on Facebook June 1 of this year.
In response to the June 1 comment, another person wrote that the area has become a memorial site.
"Some of the people in that community had a friend pass away under the sign, so it's become a bit of a congregation area to remember him," they wrote. "The problem with addictions and mental health is rampant across all communities. We don't hold people accountable for their actions anymore, so there's no repercussions for public intoxication and loitering. The people in those situations are past caring."
亚洲天堂 Lake RCMP confirmed that they frequently attend the area.
"This is an area members are regularly dispatched to for disturbances, fights, medical events and intoxication. Members also attend this area during routine patrols and address issues when seen," said Joshua Smith, Staff Sgt. at the 亚洲天堂 Lake detachment in an email. "These issues are social economic issues. A collaborative approach involving businesses, the Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake, Bylaws, RCMP, Northern Health and other stakeholders would be the best approach to problem solving these issues."
The issue with the benches is part of a larger problem with mental health, addictions, and homelessness across B.C. The provincial government recently unveiled sites for involuntary confinement of particularly troubled people as the latest move in its efforts to combat the ongoing crisis. Some 亚洲天堂 Lake community members said that governments need to do more to address the crisis.
"The governments need to focus on programs that address trauma and mental health concerns which ultimately lead to addictions," wrote another 亚洲天堂 Lake community member on Facebook, June 1. "Recovery programs are needed. Its a human crisis."
Ellis Ross, the recently-elected Conservative Member of Parliament for the area, came out strongly against drugs on the campaign trail. At an all-candidates forum in 亚洲天堂 Lake in April, he said the key to fighting the crisis is economic prosperity for the region, which he believes can be achieved by bolstering resource extraction projects in the region such as LNG Canada in Kitimat.
John Rustad, the Member of the Legislature for the region and the leader of the Conservative Party of BC, .
鈥淚t's not just about people who are homeless or people who are addicted or people with mental health, there's a combination of things that are happening, we need to do what we can for each of those groups, it's not one size fits all,鈥� said Rustad in a press conference in Kelowna on Oct. 5 of last year. He added that ending tent cities is a key component in combating the crisis.
鈥擶ith files from Jordy Cunningham
