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Cranbrook, BC (September 28, 2021) – The growing issues around homelessness, drugs and crime and its impacts to the business community and residents across the City of Cranbrook, was behind a special meeting of Council with local support agencies on Tuesday September 28.

Council brought together the East Kootenay Addiction Services Society, BC Housing, ANKORS, Community Connections, the Ktunaxa Nation Street Angels, the Regional Harm Reduction Program and the Cranbrook RCMP to start discussions around how to best manage these concerns.

Council clearly recognizes and understand this issue, which is why the City brought these vital local support organizations together to identify gaps and work together on how to fill those gaps and make Cranbrook a safe community.

“As a Council, we are well aware of this crisis, as are the residents of Cranbrook,” says Mayor Lee Pratt. “It was vital that we bring all of these support agencies together in a very public meeting. This first meeting is for everyone publicly to discuss their individual mandates and then get on with determining how we can work together to best manage this growing issue. Our community is demanding this, and we can’t ignore it.”

Council is thankful for all the efforts that these community agencies undertake each day to ensure that those in our community who need support can find it.  A lot of work is still needed to find a way out of this crisis.