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A new chapter in Thunder Bay’s response to the addictions and mental health crisis began Friday with the official opening of Mino Ginawenjigewin, which means “the act of caring for people” in Ojibwe.
The newly named St. Joseph’s Care Group site at 500 Oliver Road now offers a continuum of addictions services all under one roof.
The centre aims to be a culturally safe, trauma-informed space that provides care without judgment and without barriers. It offers spaces for ceremony, traditional healing and connection to culture.
Kevin Holland, MPP for Thunder Bay-Atikokan says the newly renovated and officially named site represents another step forward in meeting people where they are on their journey with addiction and mental health. (Sarah Law/CBC)
“This is a process that’s been a long time in the making, and finally seeing it come to fruition is really exciting,” said Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Kevin Holland. “Combined with the other services that we’ve been able to implement here in Thunder Bay, this is going to go a long way to help address the mental health and addictions crisis that we’re facing.”
The Ontario government invested $2.9 million in St. Joseph’s Care Group last fall to expand and enhance addiction services. The funding allowed for the addition of 15 safe sobering beds, which provide a supervised environment for people who are intoxicated to recover safely, as well as 25 withdrawal management beds for those withdrawing from alcohol or other substances.
A culturally rooted approach
Some of the motivation for the new centre stemmed from a coroner’s inquest in 2022 examining the deaths of Donald Mamakwa and Roland McKay. The two Indigenous men died in Thunder Bay police custody, in 2014 and 2017 respectively, after being arrested for public intoxication without receiving medical assessment.
The 2022 inquest found police cells and emergency rooms ill-suited for their needs and recommended alternatives such as sobering or detox centres to provide safer care for intoxicated individuals.
Nicole Spivak, director of addiction services with St. Joseph’s Care Group, said it was important to recognize the inquest and “honour those gentlemen”, while also celebrating the grand opening of the centre.
“We have another resource for individuals that meets them at a very low barrier and can connect them with support, services and different options for where they choose to go in their recovery journey from there,” Spivak said.
The centre’s traditional healing program was created in 2019 and took root in 2020. It’s now integrated throughout the care group.
“We already have a cultural practitioner on site,” said Reena Larabee, traditional healing manager at St. Joseph’s Care Group. “They’re bringing traditional medicines and approaches to really be a comfort for people who are experiencing some of the hardest days of their lives.”
Larabee said clients can connect with elders, participate in a ceremony and receive help with discharge planning to ensure safe transitions back into the community.
James Wilkinson, City of Thunder Bay’s Indigenous relations liaison and elder Brenda Mason, who works as St. Joseph’s Care Group elder in council, at the official opening. (Sarah Law/CBC)
“It’s really important to recognize the historical factors of intergenerational trauma and colonial policies that have impacted people,” she said. “When we’re able to offer Indigenous approaches that are culturally safe, that reduces some of the stigma and further harms that may come from institutions.”
For Spivak, the hope is that programs like this will start to turn the tide on Thunder Bay’s persistently high opioid-related death rate.
“It’s difficult holding the hope for individuals, but we will continue to do that,” she said. “Through wraparound supports, individuals will see other options that are available to them. And we want to ensure that they have the information, the support to stay as safe as possible, even if choosing not to use is not something that they’re looking for at that time.”
