Port Alberni RCMP Inspector Brian Hunter urges the public to come out to a town hall meeting on Wednesday, April 5 and find out more about the opioid drug crisis in Port Alberni. The two-hour meeting will also give people an idea of other programs available through the RCMP.
Hunter said he is particularly interested in what the public will have to say during the question and answer period. “I really want to hear what people have to say,” he noted.
“The reason I’m doing the town hall is having arrived here within the last year, I’ve had an opportunity to observe from my perspective what’s happening in the community. It’s important I hear from community members their perception of what’s happening,” Hunter said.
“I want to do everything I can as officer in charge here to save lives. We want to cut through the myths about fentanyl.”
“If we don’t have the answers to questions we can get back to people with those answers.”
The two-hour meeting will feature presentations on the opioid drug crisis in Port Alberni, as well as presentations from victims’ services, the preventative services spokesperson, and the RCMP violence and relationship coordinator. At the close of the meeting, Hunter will arrange to have a representative from Island Health on hand to answer questions on the drug crisis.
The town hall meeting will run from 7–9 p.m., at the Best Western Barclay Hotel Plus, at the corner of Stamp Avenue and Roger Street, with the first hour for presentations and the last hour for questions.