Beverly Heights residents win isolation shelter spat
Pushback against a proposed COVID-19 isolation shelter in a former Beverly Heights school has prompted the Alberta government to find a new site.
Residents surrounding Lawton Junior High School were caught off guard when they heard about the potential use of the site without any consultation.
But with the surplus school site now off the table, the province is running out of time to find a new location.
The current 24-7 isolation shelter at the Expo Centre is set to end Friday.
The new site, which will be operated by Boyle Mccauley Health Centre, will provide health-care services as well as place to isolate for homeless Edmontonians exhibiting COVID -19 symptoms.
Community and Social Services Minister Rajan Sawhney took to social media late Monday evening to notify the public that the Lawton School site, owned by Edmonton Public Schools, is no longer being considered.
She said the province is continuing to search for another location. Six buildings in the city were initially identified as possible sites for the new isolation shelter.
“I have heard the concerns raised in the community, and we are no longer considering Lawton School for an isolation site. The Government of Alberta continues to work closely with the City of Edmonton, Alberta Health Services and our trusted community partners to identify a suitable location that can be activated quickly, with minimal service interruption,” Sawhney said in the post.
“As we continue to navigate this pandemic, I remain committed to making sure vulnerable Albertans are protected.
“We will continue to work closely with all of our partners to ensure Albertans have a safe place to stay in the communities where they are located.”
In an email to Postmedia Monday afternoon, Sawhney’s acting press secretary Michael Forian said the province is currently looking at several interim solutions to ensure those currently in isolation receive uninterrupted support.
Whatever new location is chosen, Sawhney said it is an important piece of the province’s plan to support the people most at risk during the pandemic as it will allow homeless residents with symptoms to isolate from others and get tested for COVID -19.
People admitted to the facility will be transported to and from the site, where they will receive care from health professionals. The isolation centre is different from overnight shelters and day dropin sites that have been also been activated during the pandemic.
“Isolation centres do not have walk-in access and there will be security on site to ensure all individuals are safely admitted or discharged,” Sawhney’s post said. “The facility will be supervised by skilled client-care staff, and I am confident our community partners will be good neighbours in any community.”
Less than 10 people were isolating in the Expo Centre as of Aug. 7, but the site served as many as 80 people at the height of the pandemic.
Beverly Heights Community League civic affairs director Chris Keeler said the community is pleased their voices were heard after not being approached about the plan in the first place. He said consultation was key in this process and the community didn’t appreciate being left in the dark.
“We’re pleased that we finally got our voice heard on this issue. It was important to the community that we would have consultation,” he said.