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Mayor Colin Basran has cancelled a planned visit to Rutland this afternoon because it has “morphed into something larger” in relation to the nearby McCurdy Road supportive housing development.
The Mayor agreed with a resident of the area in early June to go on a walking tour around a different supportive facility, Heath House, a spokeswoman for the City said.
But what was “supposed to be” a small gathering with “a few” concerned residents has grown into something far larger, she added.
Hundreds of residents came out on Sunday to protest the new 49-unit development at 130 McCurdy Road – predicted to be completed by 2021 – because they do not want a wet facility (where residents can take drugs) to be close to schools.
Some of the protesters were planning to demonstrate when Mayor Basran was on his walking tour today.
Christopher Bocskei, who organized Sunday's demonstration, did not arrange Tuesday's protest.
“[Cancelling the walk] had nothing to do with safety,” the City spokeswoman explained in response to speculation on social media about the Mayor's motivations.
The meeting with the resident who originally raised concerns about Heath House, meanwhile, has been rearranged.
It will be held at City Hall soon, the spokeswoman said. She added that the two issues – Heath House and McCurdy Road – are separate.
She also directed concerned residents to the Neighbourhood Information Session about the McCurdy Road development being held by BC Housing tomorrow evening.
Representatives from BC Housing, Interior Health, Journey Home Society and CMHA Kelowna will be at the Rutland Centennial Hall from 5.30 p.m. to 7 p.m. to provide more information about the project.
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