Community Dialogue on the Downtown
Consultation has concluded
The opportunity for input has concluded. Scroll down for the report highlighting the results of this feedback.
The City of Terrace held a virtual “Community Dialogue on the Downtown” on Wednesday, July 14, 2021, from 6:00–9:00 pm, to allow members of the public to share their views and suggestions on social issues in our downtown, including homelessness, mental health and addictions, crime, and safety. This was the result of Councillor Lynne Christiansen’s June 14 motion to direct staff to organize a virtual event to discuss the downtown crisis of safety and livability. The event included opening remarks from Mayor Carol Leclerc and from Northern Health, followed by comments from the public.
Click here for the Mayor's presentation slides.
Watch the July 14 video now:
Continue the Conversation Online!
We know not everyone may have been able to attend the meeting or felt comfortable sharing their opinions and suggestions in that format. That's why we have two additional ways to participate through Engage Terrace. Sign up to share your ideas. It's quick and easy to register! Learn more here.
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We want to know: how would you improve our downtown core?
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View All Ideasalmost 3 years ago
First the "Downtown" problem is actually a Citywide problem. Its just more visible Downtown. Most of our "street people" are dealing with
addiction issues. The problem is that they are not getting the help they need. By allowing them to commit crimes with no consequences we are actually making the problem worse. You steal from someone's back yard or their car or a local store and may get caught 5% of the time. Then you may or may not be charged. Then you may or may not go to court. I have seen thieves receive a "cautionary letter" in lieu of going to court. What is the incentive to stop doing it? Now the situation is getting worse as we see more violence in some of these crimes. The police arrest them and the Crown Prosecutor refuses to prosecute. Again, this is not helping the individual. If they commit a crime they should be arrested, charged and prosecuted. If found guilty they should be put in an institution of some kind that allows them to get help. After they are released we should have a program that gives them the opportunity to work and become a productive member of society. We won't save them all because some don't want the help but some do and they are in such a downward spiral that there is no getting out of it. One person told me" I'm addicted to drugs, I can't get a job so I steal to survive." Have them spend time in a reasonable facility like the Kasiks, or perhaps a wing of one of the many work camps we are building. I'm not talking about prison, I'm talking about a facility that will give them safe confinement where they can eat properly and hopefully spend some time off of drugs. Local business' can give them temporary work so they can make a little money and not go right back to the same crowd they left. I'm certainly no expert but I don't see this problem getting better and its a black eye for our once safe community.
almost 3 years ago
The issue of streetpeople
I must look at this dilemma with a compassionate eye, for these persons are someone's children who's parents are more than likely as frustrated with societies revolving door interventions as you are ! For it is without societal cause but a situation of mental and physical health interventions that society should have intervened in decades before they were at odds with societies norms. I have noticed the active public discussions lately, heightened fear, anger and frustration over our supportive institutions, policing ability and the lack of a clear mandate with lots of blaming to go around, which never ends well. Once you see a person on the street, its decades beyond the actual interventions for the problem, why? Because the Police are not your front line of defense for this issue, so what is, the early childhood diagnoses of mental and physical health issues identifying learning disabilities and the related interventions is societies first line of defense creating a barrier to the stigmas, biases, norms of conduct and the oppression of self worth through peer preasure., allowing this child to mature in the best version of themselves. So what happens when a child grows up without support interventions well this is where your second line of defence gets involved, the police, the law, and its revolving door of interventions which ignore the real problem are prisons are full of these individuals. The U.S. has 9 times the incarceration rate of Canada and upwards of 16 million people who live on the street yet this is overshadowed by the neo-liberal ideological capitalistic swearword taxes ! So what can we do once a person is on the street, trying to survive, without money, socializing in sensationalism and anger, defecating in and intimidating the public, neglecting their health leaving themselves open to desease ? Well in my mind all bodies concerned have to come together ie. health programs, judicial and cultural institutions and outline an agreed upon path too a suitable humane outcome. There used to be in BC years ago a non-stimatizing program of remanded incarceration of 60 to 90 days in a detoxification and intervention diagnoses this allowing the person too clean-up and be seperated from negative influences, have access to good nutrition, rest, obtain positive psychological input and any needed prescriptions, which should have been done prior to their entrance into the school system hence your first line of defense ! It has been previously recognized that when people are free to be clean, clear headed, have a support system of, medical and psychological help they will make it back home if not these people will always be where they are most supported be it positively or negatively on the street.
almost 3 years ago
Community Centre
We need a heart for Terrace. We have many disjointed services without a centralized place for young and old to meet up year round. Without a Community centre we won’t recruit families to move to the area long term.
almost 3 years ago
Fewer cannabis shops
How in a 3 block radius can our downtown core support 6 cannabis shops? What image does this give visitors? What image does this provide to our children? When all you see are cannabis shops and homeless people strung out/high? I no longer go downtown alone, or with my children. It’s sad. Our downtown used to be vibrant, now it’s dirty, unsafe (used needles left or empty crack bags left at the children’s water park) and loitered with individual s who do not respect you or the businesses downtown.
almost 3 years ago
A cohesive vision for Terrace
Currently our downtown core is lacking life and vibrancy. So many projects, but nothing joining them together. We have beautiful murals, carvings, kermode bears. But it’s as though you have different planning committees where no one talks. So everyone does their own thing. Find a way to tie this all together. Make it a place visitors want to go. We could easily be the jasper or Banff of the North.
