#Safeworks
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thatheatherc.bsky.social
Not a single death at Calgary's Safeworks site since opening in 2017.

Thank you, Avnish Nanda for trying and for your future appeal.
June 17, 2026 at 4:33 AM
friendsofmedicare.bsky.social
💯!

Dr. Bonnie Larson: "As a physician, I consider SCS a gold-star public health intervention. It does exactly what it is designed to do with 100 per cent efficacy. Despite such success in saving lives, the UCP has been intent on shuttering Safeworks."

calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu...
Opinion: Former Safeworks client fights closure, saying facility as crucial now as in his past
Opinion:
calgaryherald.com
June 11, 2026 at 8:07 PM
thatheatherc.bsky.social
This will have a devastating impact on Calgary's population of drug users. Absolutely devastating.

People will die. It is an absolute certainty. Safeworks SCS saved thousands of lives.

Minister Mike Ellis will have blood stained hands.
March 21, 2026 at 5:31 AM
drugdatadecoded.ca
We've already stopped the UCP from closing Safeworks in Calgary twice.

You can stop them a third time! 9/

FULL STORY on DORS:
drugdatadecoded.ca/overdose-app...
Overdose app falters as Alberta government accelerates war on supervised consumption
Launched to government fanfare on sole-source contracts, the Digital Overdose Response System app is barely used most days and has registered just 51 ambulance dispatches over four years –– around 0.1...
drugdatadecoded.ca
January 10, 2026 at 5:20 PM
jansplanet.bsky.social
#Safeworks saves lives. The UCP is putting a stop to it.

#YYCcc #Disobey
#HarmReduction #SocialMurder #BadGov #AbPoli
#SupervisedConsumptionWorks
#EvidenceBasedCare
#HumanRights
As sun sets on Safeworks drug site, solutions to addiction crisis remain elusive
With supervised drug use ending at the Sheldon Chumir health centre, the Alberta's government pivot on opioid crisis remains contentious.
calgaryherald.com
June 29, 2026 at 6:54 PM
canadahealthwatch.ca
Alberta government to close Calgary's sole supervised consumption site in 2026 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/drug-consumption-site-alberta-government-9.7015065

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀 ⇢ CanadaHealthwatch.ca 🍁
A man waits to enter the Safeworks supervised consumption site at the Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre in Calgary in this file photo from August 2021.
December 14, 2025 at 3:29 PM
ehyshka.bsky.social
👀

”Under the provincial government’s health-care restructuring, meant to streamline care, Primary and Preventative Health Services provides the funding to Primary Care Alberta, which in turn funds Recovery Alberta.”

www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/arti...
Safeworks no longer providing needles, pipes to Calgary partner agencies
Grassroots harm-reduction teams in Calgary say the province’s health restructuring has halted their access to free needles, pipes and other supplies that help keep drug users safe.
www.ctvnews.ca
October 8, 2025 at 12:42 AM
mondoab.bsky.social
“Rather than provide services for the kind of health care and the kind of problems you wish people had, we need to provide services for the kinds of problems we’re actually dealing with,” said Jackson.

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Recovery Alberta set to slash hours Safeworks Connect team operates in Calgary | CBC News
The outreach team, which is based in the city's Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre, responds to overdoses in the area, cleans needle debris and responds to community concerns. But the 24/7 team will soon...
www.cbc.ca
February 19, 2026 at 6:10 PM
theglobeandmail.com
Alberta government wants public opinion to determine future of Calgary drug-use site: Three years ago the province announced it would replace the Safeworks site with two others elsewhere in the city, but it has yet to provide details on its closure plan
Alberta government wants public opinion to determine future of Calgary drug-use site
Three years ago the province announced it would replace the Safeworks site with two others elsewhere in the city, but it has yet to provide details on its closure plan
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 11, 2024 at 12:08 PM
drugdatadecoded.ca
Cllr Wyness is next, and has taken an interest in this, complaining last week that Safeworks refused her request to visit the site. This was puzzling, because Safeworks has allowed many tours before – not to mention city cllrs can walk in whenever. 10/
x.com/JenniferWyne...
x.com
x.com
October 30, 2024 at 11:04 PM
mare555.bsky.social
"They have saved more lives than I ever will in my medical career and will continually show up, even when society lets them down.

We are hopeful that the court will do the right thing and allow an injunction to keep Safeworks open."

#HarmReduction
#abhealth
#ableg
calgaryswsj.bsky.social calgaryswsj.bsky.social @calgaryswsj.bsky.social · Jun 11
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu...
"..There are many current examples of how AB is not holding up its side of the social safety net bargain. This is why we are seeing numerous legal challenges abt access to gender affirming care, income supports, shelter, free health care .."
#HarmReductionSavesLives
Opinion: Former Safeworks client fights closure, saying facility as crucial now as in his past
Opinion:
calgaryherald.com
June 11, 2026 at 2:05 PM
heartforward.bsky.social
Here we go again, AB Premier D Smith has conveniently forgotten that they already held public town hall meetings on Calgary's Sheldon Chumir SCS site. How about they come up with a plan to address homelessness and expand the site now? More deaths to come .. www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber...
Alberta government wants public opinion to determine future of Calgary drug-use site
Three years ago the province announced it would replace the Safeworks site with two others elsewhere in the city, but it has yet to provide details on its closure plan
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 11, 2024 at 11:53 PM
lynnho.bsky.social
@naheednenshi.bsky.social do you have anything to say about Safeworks closing?
June 12, 2026 at 8:52 PM
rickyleongyyc.bsky.social
With the end of drug consumption services from June 30 at the Chumir health centre, my colleagues put together this in-depth report on Safeworks' various impacts through its decade in operation, and what comes next with a pivot away from supervised drug use. calgaryherald.com/feature/safe... #yyc
As sun sets on Safeworks drug site, solutions to addiction crisis remain elusive
With supervised drug use ending at the Sheldon Chumir health centre, the Alberta's government pivot on opioid crisis remains contentious.
calgaryherald.com
June 29, 2026 at 5:46 PM
culturealberta.bsky.social
Alberta Closing Safe Consumption Sites in Calgary and Lethbridge by End of June
#calgary #yyc #alberta #consumptionsite #albertanews #drug #lethbridge

www.culturealberta.com/articles/alb...
Alberta Closing Safe Consumption Sites in Calgary and Lethbridge by End of June | Culture Alberta
Alberta will close supervised drug consumption sites in Calgary and Lethbridge on June 30. The Calgary Safeworks site at the Sheldon M. Chumir Centre the province's first-ever consumption site, open s...
www.culturealberta.com
March 21, 2026 at 11:57 PM
qsusie.bsky.social
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... More cuts to our most vulnerable population. #harmreduction #abpoli #yyc #addiction
Recovery Alberta set to slash hours Safeworks Connect team operates in Calgary | CBC News
The outreach team, which is based in the city's Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre, responds to overdoses in the area, cleans needle debris and responds to community concerns. But the 24/7 team will soon...
www.cbc.ca
February 19, 2026 at 12:15 PM
lynnho.bsky.social
Have you read any of 'Drug Data Decoded' papers'? And today the UCP announced closing the Calgary (Safeworks) & Lethbridge sites on June 30.
March 21, 2026 at 4:22 AM
hpliszka.bsky.social
Alberta's Conservative gov closing supervised consumption, eliminating funding for an important outreach team & restricting distribution of harm reduction supplies. Calgary is about to see even more social disorder & more overdose deaths.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Province plans to cut Calgary's downtown outreach team as supervised consumption site closes | CBC News
Operating in Calgary's Beltline neighbourhood, the Safeworks Connect team has been relied upon for years to respond to overdoses, distribute harm reduction supplies, educate, and connect people to hea...
www.cbc.ca
March 31, 2026 at 1:13 PM
calgaryswsj.bsky.social
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu...
"..There are many current examples of how AB is not holding up its side of the social safety net bargain. This is why we are seeing numerous legal challenges abt access to gender affirming care, income supports, shelter, free health care .."
#HarmReductionSavesLives
Opinion: Former Safeworks client fights closure, saying facility as crucial now as in his past
Opinion:
calgaryherald.com
June 11, 2026 at 2:02 PM
tinkiegurl.bsky.social
How many bodies have to pile up in the streets before they realize these programs are the lifeline to keeping people alive?
Province plans to cut Calgary's downtown outreach team as supervised consumption site closes | CBC News
Operating in Calgary's Beltline neighbourhood, the Safeworks Connect team has been relied upon for years to respond to overdoses, distribute harm reduction supplies, educate, and connect people to hea...
www.cbc.ca
March 30, 2026 at 6:52 PM
drugdatadecoded.ca
They voted against deciding anything about Safeworks SCS at all, saying if the Province wants to close it, that blood is on their hands. /F
October 31, 2024 at 12:01 AM
heartsalberta.bsky.social
“As a physician, I consider SCS a gold-star public health intervention. It does exactly what it is designed to do with 100 per cent efficacy. Despite such success in saving lives, the UCP has been intent on shuttering Safeworks.” Dr. Bonnie Larsen.
friendsofmedicare.bsky.social Friends of Medicare @friendsofmedicare.bsky.social · Jun 11
💯!

Dr. Bonnie Larson: "As a physician, I consider SCS a gold-star public health intervention. It does exactly what it is designed to do with 100 per cent efficacy. Despite such success in saving lives, the UCP has been intent on shuttering Safeworks."

calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu...
Opinion: Former Safeworks client fights closure, saying facility as crucial now as in his past
Opinion:
calgaryherald.com
June 12, 2026 at 2:20 PM
pednpsy.bsky.social
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Only some Albertans deserve healthcare.
Recovery Alberta set to slash hours Safeworks Connect team operates in Calgary | CBC News
The outreach team, which is based in the city's Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre, responds to overdoses in the area, cleans needle debris and responds to community concerns. But the 24/7 team will soon...
www.cbc.ca
February 20, 2026 at 10:29 AM
drugdatadecoded.ca
Here is the email I wrote to the Ministry, the Centre of Recovery Excellence, and Recovery Alberta that included multiple study authors, on February 17.

Only the CoRE acknowledged my request and it declined to answer any questions.
Email :Dear Ministry of MHA, Recovery Alberta, and CoRE personnel: (Ms. Kaufmann - please loop in Dr. Shelly Vik as some questions pertain to her.) I have been reviewing internal conversations between the Ministry and Recovery Alberta officials concerning supervised consumption sites closures by the Province. I am copying several Alberta media outlets on this email for transparency. A few questions, if you can please respond to questions 1-6 by 5PM this Wednesday (Feb 18) and to #7-18 by next Monday (Feb 23): Section 1. PLEASE REPLY BY 5PM FEBRUARY 18: Was the Recovery Alberta report "Mortality among supervised consumption site clients" shared with the Ministry by Recovery Alberta? If so, when? What data concerning Red Deer OPS usage were shared with the Red Deer City Council in advance of its February 2024 vote on the fate of the OPS? (If there is a presentation, summary document or meeting minutes, please consider providing those.) Were data from the Recovery Alberta “Retrospective Cohort Study,” such as OAT initiation and retention data of SCS clients, included in decision-making around the site closure? Have data from the Recovery Alberta “Retrospective Cohort Study” been shared in court proceedings concerning Aaron Brown's injunction to keep Red Deer OPS open? Did the 2024 Ministerial Order to bill out-of-province clients for supervised consumption site access cause people to lose access to the sites, even temporarily? Are any known to have died of drug poisoning during that period? What date was the exemption to the same 2024 Ministerial Order implemented for supervised consumption sites? Section 2. PLEASE REPLY BY 5PM FEBRUARY 23: (Related to #2) In February 2024, as Red Deer city council was preparing to vote on the proposed overdose prevention site, Recovery Alberta was sending inaccurate data around adverse events at the OPS to the Ministry, according to emails from the OPS management. Were these data corrected for the Ministry? If so, when? In the ASUSS data, Q3 2025 was modified from previous reporting periods to remove 'soft overdoses’ (i.e. overdoses requiring only supportive care, without oxygen, naloxone or EMS) from the 'Any Adverse Event' tally at Calgary Safeworks SCS. This resulted in 20% of Adverse Events being eliminated from reporting. Was it an intentional decision to remove ’soft overdoses' from this total? If so, please explain the evidence underpinning the decision. On February 3, 2025, the Ministry asked Recovery Alberta officials to explain the discrepancy between the Total Visits to each supervised consumption site and the number of visits that had "intention," which it defined as consumption events or referrals to other services. Dr. Vik provided a partial response that did not incorporate the fulsome reasoning sent to her by Lethbridge OPS staff (pasted here, at the bottom). Was the Ministry made aware through this or other channels that reduced consumption events at the OPS had been explained as a result of: a) the Ministry’s closure of the inhalation service in 2020, b) aggressive encampment eviction policy by the City of Lethbridge, and c) four-fold reduced booth capacity of the site, thereby driving people to pick up supplies and use elsewhere (including in public spaces)? On March 25, 2025, Dr. Vik and her team were discussing how clients of the Calgary Safeworks SCS were being counted. This appears to be inconsistent with the way that clients at other sites are counted (for example, in Lethbridge where clients who are picking up supplies get counted as “visits” but not as “consumption events.”) Which count is accurate for the total monthly site visitors and the total unique monthly site visitors? Does Calgary Safeworks in fact have more than 2,000 site users per month, when people picking up supplies and people consuming drugs are included? On January 10, 2025, exchanges between the Ministry and Recovery Alberta suggested some internal angst around protecting data related… The same report clearly shows that people who use supervised consumption sites regularly (6 months out of 6) demonstrated approximately 50% reductions in hospitalizations and average lengths of stay during hospitalization. Who else outside of Recovery Alberta report authors and the Ministry have been notified of this finding? Will these data be included in the Retrospective Cohort Study? On December 23, 2024, Ivan Skorokhod (CoRE) asked Dr. Vik to begin establishing a data stream for CoRE to access personally identifying health information. Was this request fulfilled? If so, who at the CoRE currently has access to identifiable health information? A March 3, 2025 email from Dr. Vik to staff at the Red Deer OPS showed a list of measurements to be collected in a “measurement plan” due last June. The listed measurements included pregnancy and a series of medical conditions. Are data concerning pregnancies and medical conditions among SCS clients being analyzed by the Canadian Centre of Recovery Excellence? If so, who has access? Are these data individually identifying? Section 13(4) of the Canadian Centre of Recovery Excellence Act provides that "The Centre may collect, directly or indirectly, use and disclose information, including personal information and individually identifying health information.” Is there any possibility that health information obtained by the CoRE could be used to issue Orders under the Compassionate Intervention Act? Thank you, Euan Thomson Exchange referenced in Question 9: On September 10, 2024, Shelly Vik asked Lethbridge OPS staff, "Can you tell me why there are so many visits at [Lethbridge OPS] that are not consumption events?" OPS staff replied: "...the summer trend of people wanting to stay outside, staying in encampments or going to stay/work out of town... leads to a lot of people coming to quickly pick up harm reduction supplies and head on their way. A second factor which compounds this trend is the Lethbridge Wellness Shelter (where we are normally parked right in front of) is undergoing construction and expansions therefore a lot of the clients are being dispersed from encampments by the city of Lethbridge and are having a harder time making it to our temporary location. ...our consumption numbers are consistently lower than other sites [because] the Lethbridge OPS has the smallest capacity of all the sites, we have 3 consumption booths, where we can only facilitate IV injections (We do not offer smoking services on board) and have a limitation of only 5 clients on board at a time due to fire code regulations."
March 16, 2026 at 2:48 PM
ikakimaa.bsky.social
"Lethbridge's own Streets Alive Mission, however, came out in support. Founder Tim Kissick said recovery is working in Alberta and expressed optimism about the direction." This organization is a part of the problem, not a part of the solution.
Alberta Closing Safe Consumption Sites in Calgary and Lethbridge by End of June | Culture Alberta
Alberta will close supervised drug consumption sites in Calgary and Lethbridge on June 30. The Calgary Safeworks site at the Sheldon M. Chumir Centre the province's first-ever consumption site, open s...
www.culturealberta.com
April 17, 2026 at 9:09 PM