The idea of a new sobering centre in Kamloops was discussed between the Kamloops delegation and BC’s Minister of Mental Health and Addictions at the UBCM convention.

Mayor Ken Christian says the meeting with Judy Darcy was to seek provincial support on ways to better help the city’s most vulnerable people.

He says municipal jail cells are not the place to house people who are battling alcoholism.

“And quite frankly, that’s risky and it’s expensive. And so that’s not the best place to deal with an addiction and a physical condition that requires a more medical and more trained intervention than simply guards watching them.”

Christian thinks the Phoenix Centre could be a good location for the sobering centre, because it has long provided detox services in the region.

He adds their meeting this year was to further a 2017 city resolution that first asked the province for a coordinated response to social issues, including alcoholism.

And the mayor thinks the meeting with Minister Judy Darcy was well received.