Community Outreach Task Force Moves Forward; Welcomes Community Feedback

Cambridge, Ontario. Oct. 20, 2017… The Community Outreach Task Force met today at Cambridge City Hall in its ongoing effort to share solutions and coordinate a collaborative response to the opioid issue.

City Manager Gary Dyke stressed that the opioid problem is a complex problem made up of many overlapping and interconnected issues and that there is no quick fix.  At the same time, the City and regional partners are committed to ensuring families and local businesses feel safe and supported. 

The task force welcomed community delegations whose presentations and feedback will help inform future actions and next steps. Dyke shared an overview of initial steps being taken specifically in Cambridge in response to public safety concerns.

• Installation and expansion of coverage of new security cameras in the downtown area and city trails.
• Offering sharps disposal containers to local businesses in the Cambridge area free of charge.
• Reallocated resources to assist homeowners and private businesses clean up any drug related debris found on their private property. 
• Responding to calls on both public and private properties about discarded needles as quickly and efficiently as possible. Implementing a new tracking system.
• Actively patrolling city parks for needle debris.
• Establishment of a sub-committee on the task force focused specifically on public safety.
• Working with community groups and Region of Waterloo Public Health to assist with training and debris clean up; and encouraging more community partnerships.
• Continuing to share information from Region of Waterloo Public Health and work on improved public education about safe needle disposal. As well, to reduce jurisdictional confusion and create a more streamlined response process in terms of complaints about debris. 
• Continuing to work with The Bridges and other community groups.
• Continue to work with police and our community officer within the downtown area to better serve our community.
• Actively engage citizen groups to ensure concerns are being met.

During the meeting, it was reiterated by members of the task force that discarded needles and debris are one visible symptom of much larger issue.

“We will continue to try to address the root cause and help those directly struggling with addiction,” added Dyke. “We have a responsibility to look at the larger picture - and we need our community members to come together to as part of the solution as well. Everyone here has the same goal: a safe and healthy community. I believe we can work together.”

To assist with understanding the larger picture, the task force will be looking at ways to collect more reliable data on opioid usage. The World Council on City Data presented a potential evaluation framework as part of the meeting.

Members of the task force represent a cross- section of frontline stakeholders, experts and service providers from social services, public health, education, law enforcement and more.

The group also reviewed the governance modal and the structure of the task force sub-committees, which will include members of the public. A large part of the task force’s mandate is to engage with the public, particularly those affected personally.

For more information and updates, please visit:  https://www.cambridge.ca/en/your-city/community-outreach-task-force.aspx

For information on safe needle disposal, see here: https://www.cambridge.ca/en/your-city/safe-needle-disposal.aspx

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Primary Media Contact:

Susanne Hiller
Director of Communications
Corporate Communications division
City of Cambridge
(519) 740-4680 ext. 4831
hillers@cambridge.ca