The opioid crisis on Vancouver Island has drawn the attention of a national television news program.
A TV camera crew made a stop in Duncan recently while gathering interviews and images for a prominent news magazine show.
Duncan businessman William Arnold, the owner of Experience Cycling, believes thatĀ even though it willĀ highlightĀ aĀ problemĀ inĀ
“I think it’s bringing awareness and helping people understand that we have issues just like big cities and we need to address them and work with everybody involved.”
ArnoldĀ is hopingĀ to seeĀ senior levels of government step up more with funding and services to help deal with a problem that he says is growing and affecting everyone.
He says it’s impacting youth in schools, and the Indigenous community has been particularly hard hit and feels the issue is being patched over with bandages.
He hopes national exposure will be a chance for the the provincial and federal governments to see the “work that needs to be done.”
Arnold and a group of volunteers take time out of their daily schedules to clear sidewalks and alleys of discarded needles and drug paraphernalia.
By reaching out to people in the area, he’s come to know many of the substance users and does what he can to help themĀ if possible.
In addition toĀ neighbourhood clean-ups,Ā in October of 2020Ā his volunteer group painted overĀ graffiti on the walls of commercial buildings andĀ installed a gateĀ to reduce access toĀ Whistler Street from behind a mall.
