Advocates warn of gender-based gap in addiction care
Cindy Foster is getting ready to open the Regenesis Centre for Recovery, a first-of-its-kind addictions centre in Manitoba.
"This is the only live-in treatment facility in all of Manitoba for the queer community, specifically,” said Foster.
Foster said this centre aims to provide a home-like atmosphere for those on the road to recovery.
It will be able to house six people at any given time.
"Primarily those that belong to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. (We) will also be looking to give priority intake to those (who) also belong to the BIPOC and disabled communities."
Communities Foster said often fall through the cracks when it comes to addiction services in Manitoba.
"There are a few supports specifically for the queer community, and particularly for those that are transgender in Manitoba, and those folks often have a tough time going through traditional binary treatment options,” said Foster.
That's why she said a centre like this one is desperately needed in the community.
"There are so few resources available. And the ones that are available are stretched very thin," said Foster.
It's a gender-based gap in care the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre has noticed as well.
"One of the greatest needs now is to support women, and especially women with young children, we're seeing a huge gap there,” said Greg Kyllo, the centre’s executive director.
Kyllo said plans are in the works to create an Anne Oake Recovery Centre, geared specifically for women and mothers.
“Currently, at Bruce Oake we support men, but there is a deep need in the community, and we're being asked every day about doing more to support women, and being able to support all genders. And so that's something that we really think that is needed.”
These initiatives come on the heels of two of the worst years for drug-related deaths in Manitoba.
Last year 445 people died, and the year prior, 467.
Foster said she believes these beds at the Regenesis Centre will save lives.
"Because it will allow folks that belong to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community to have a safe space to go in order to seek the services for addiction recovery.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.