Kelowna’s Mayor, Tom Dyas, has formally requested the federal health minister to disapprove the renewal of a supervised consumption site located in the city’s downtown area. Dyas expressed concerns about the safety impact of the Outreach Urban Health Centre, operated by the Interior Health Authority, citing over 3,400 service calls to the RCMP since its establishment in 2021, as well as incidents of outdoor fires and a concentration of criminal activity around the site.
In a letter sent on behalf of the city council, Mayor Dyas emphasized that the supervised consumption site lacked essential support services and had prompted the closure of a nearby alley due to safety risks. Despite ongoing engagement with Interior Health and the provincial government, the mayor highlighted persistent safety issues in the vicinity.
Dyas has been advocating for alternative interventions to assist individuals struggling with drug use and homelessness, such as tiny homes and mandatory care. He emphasized the need for a revised approach to providing services, acknowledging the current system’s shortcomings.
Sue Pollock, the chief medical health officer for Interior Health, acknowledged the safety concerns surrounding the site but stressed the critical role it plays in offering life-saving services to vulnerable individuals. Pollock highlighted the site’s broader support services, including housing and mental health assistance, underscoring the potential repercussions of closing the facility on those in need.
The B.C. Coroners Service reported 37 drug-related deaths in Kelowna up to June of the current year. Pollock noted that the Outreach Urban Health Centre staff had successfully reversed 75 overdoses in 2025 alone, emphasizing the importance of the site in preventing fatalities among drug users.
Health Canada mandates the approval of supervised consumption sites, which are operated by trained professionals and differ from overdose prevention sites overseen by the provincial government. B.C.’s newly appointed Health Minister, Ravi Kahlon, responded to Kelowna’s concerns, expressing readiness to address issues and enhance care services for the city’s residents.
Mayor Dyas and other Kelowna officials are set to meet with Minister Kahlon at the upcoming Union of B.C. Municipalities convention to discuss strategies for improving care services in the region. Kahlon reiterated the significance of overdose prevention services in safeguarding lives.
Overall, the debate over the supervised consumption site in Kelowna reflects a broader conversation on balancing public safety concerns with the essential support services provided to vulnerable populations in the community.