Representatives from Meridian Planning (Meridian), Narconon International and Narconon Canada were greeted by a crowd of concerned citizens that filled the small meeting room in the Hockley Community and Seniors Hall Tuesday evening.West Coast Property Investments Inc. is looking to acquire the property at 994091 Mono-Adjala Townline, about a mile north of Hockley village on the Adjala side of the townline. Currently listed for $2.9 million, the site would house a private drug addiction recovery centre.“The intent of this open house is really to introduce and give you a lot of detail about what’s proposed on this property,” said Mark Stone, a Meridian Planning associate. “We’re also here to answer questions and hear the concerns.”Mr. Stone explained that as an urban planner, Meridian was retained by the applicant to look at the proposed land use and planning documents to assist the zoning application through the process. An application was submitted in June and it was at a meeting a couple of weeks ago that Township officials suggested that a public meeting would be a good idea. The public meeting on Tuesday was not a requirement of the Planning Act but, according to Mr. Stone, holding a meeting was advisable because of type of community and the nature of the proposal.“The municipality is holding onto the zoning application right now, they really haven’t started processing it because they wanted us to host this type of meeting and report back to them,” said Mr. Stone. “Then following that if they decide to go through the process they will advertise and there will be a statutory public meeting at the municipal offices with full notice and there will have to be signs on the property an so on.”Community questions and concerns took up the majority of the almost three-hour meeting Tuesday night.The property currently has five existing single detached dwellings that were built starting in the 1960’s, the last one being built in the 1980’s. There is a storage building that will continue to be used for that purpose, a large pond and a tree farm, that according to Clark Carr, President of Narconon International, they intend to continue farming.“The proposal is to establish addiction recovery and life skills development education centre,” said Mr. Stone. “The intent in general terms is that the main dwelling will be used as a main office. It will also have counseling rooms and education rooms. The four other single detached dwellings will continue to be used as such. They all have kitchens and bedrooms and living areas.”Mr. Stone said that the way the application has been set up, if you were to drive by or fly over it, the site would look exactly the same as it now does in terms of buildings.Narconon International has been a nationally recognized charity in the United States since 1972. Formed in 1966, it’s a drug-free social education model aiming for stable, permanent recovery....
I hope that residents and leaders of Adjala Tosorontio Township will take the time to do research on Narconon before this comes up for a decision. A good place to start that research would be NarcononReviews.net, where a number of documents that pertain to Narconon have been (and continue to be) collected in the "Researchers" section. The site has no commercial interests; it is purely an informational site, intended to educate people and give them information they need to form their own conclusions about Narconon.
Narconon International has been a nationally recognized charity in the United States since 1972. Formed in 1966, it’s a drug-free social education model aiming for stable, permanent recovery.
Another article:http://www.simcoe.com/news-story/3918674-proposed-rehab-centre-has-scientology-ties/
While he’s aware of some of the controversies around the rehab centres, (Mayor) Walsh said he doesn’t have any concerns to note at this time.According to CBC, a Narconon-run rehab centre in Trois-Rivières, Que., was shut down in April 2012 after four people were hospitalized because of the detox methods used at the site. Instead of using drugs to break addictions, the program’s clients go cold turkey, undergo sauna treatments and take vitamins.Carr said the program was shut down because it didn’t fit under the medical model of Quebec.However, the regional health authority in Quebec said the centre was shut down due to lack of medical supervision and no scientific basis for the treatment.Carr dismisses these claims.
I attended the town meeting on July 29, and the community made it more than clear, they do NOT want this facility in Hockley Village. The Narconon presenters of the meeting absolutely were NOT forthright or honest with their connections with Scientology, their level of staffing expertise or levels of security on the proposed site. NO facts or supporting documentation were presented, and not a question or concern that was presented by the community - was answered with a direct response. Very untrustworthy, and ambiguous presentation.
Clark must have come from the Mary Rieser school of communication.
Carr said the program was shut down because it didn’t fit under the medical model of Quebec. However, the regional health authority in Quebec said the centre was shut down due to lack of medical supervision and no scientific basis for the treatment. Carr dismisses these claims.
This website may only be used by consumers that have a bona fide interest in the purchase, sale, or lease of real estate of the type being offered via the website.
Doesn't keeping the property out of the hands of scamsters, hucksters, and quacks qualify as a "Bona fide interest"??
Lisa Murrill CaissieCommunity Announcement:It is with great excitement that we share the proposed Narconon site has been purchased by a local Hockley family. With the very generous assistance of neighbour and realtor (Grant Hilborn) the offer was accepted. The property will be rented by some of the Blenkarn family for the next year and the new owner will continue the tree farm operation.Narconon came back with a counter offer, however, it was important to the Benkarn's that the property to go to a "community friendly" buyer and thankfully they did not accept.It is important to note that Narconon is not likely to give up pursuing properties in this area. With the Hockley Highlands in close proximity they will likely re-emerge again elsewhere in our community. In the Toronto Star article Clark Carr stated that "this was one of the properties they were considering". It is important to continue our efforts to prevent this from happening. Perhaps we need to focus our efforts on lobbying for a pro-active provincial ban as they have done in Quebec.I would like to leave you all tonight by saying that Knights in shining armor & Heroes do live outside of fairy tales. They also live in Hockley ValleyOn behalf of the community - thank you to the Heroes of Hockley!
Marc RonanAs Most of you know Prudential Ronan Realty is handling the sale of a large estate property owned by the Blenkarn family trust. Recently an offer was received from a Toronto Remax Realtor representing a organization called Narcanon. The Blenkarn family with our professional advice chose not to finalize this agreement and has now Sold the Estate Property to a local buyer from the Hockley Valley residential community with no change or request for any change in the existing zoning. Congratulations to the Blenkarn Family on the firm sale of this special estate property. Regards Marc Ronan
I don't believe that they'd give up, and it's been a year. Pick up your visual scanning!
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Topic: Narconon trying to move into Ontario (Read 31813 times)