Article contentAccording to a social media post from Mayor David Mitchell, the town gave its OK in 2024 to allow the society to establish a drop-in centre and rental units in its downtown, along a main thoroughfare (King Street) and close to long-established businesses, a park, and near the LaHave River waterway that runs through the town.Article contentBut since its arrival, Mitchell said there has been an “extremely dramatic increase” in issues “corresponding with the opening of their facility, called Cedar Place.Article content“From drug use in the area to intimidation of people, disruption of traffic and catcalling of women, to increasing thefts and vandalism … police and town resources are being required far too often,” he posted on his social media site.Article content“Town council, staff, police and I have all tried to work with the John Howard Society on addressing the increasing problems happening as a direct result of this operation.”Article contentArticle content Bridgewater Mayor David Mitchell: “Town council, staff, police and I have all tried to work with the John Howard Society on addressing the increasing problems happening as a direct result of this operation.” Photo by TIM KROCHAK/THE CHRONICLE HERALD FILEArticle contentNEED A ‘MORE SUITABLE LOCATION’ Article contentIn an interview with the Post, Mitchell said the centre’s downtown location “is becoming more and more known as an area where people are feeling uncomfortable being in.Article content“We have been in constant contact with the John Howard Society about the issues. We have engaged the province on multiple occasions. But this summer, it came to a head where we had a tragic drowning, a death in the river right across the street from the (drop-in centre).Article content“A number of weeks ago, we made a request to our MLA, who is also the minister of the Department of Justice to the province, that this has gone too far. Now it’s time to close this facility. The local business community made the same request to close this facility.”Article contentHowever, Mitchell defended that supportive housing is needed for those who have been incarcerated and now being reintegrated into the community.Article contentArticle content“Nobody is saying that we don’t need these supports,” he said. “If it is deemed an important enough service that it needs to reopen … a more suitable location is required — not downtown, not on a main street, and also by a different operator — in order for this to work.”Article content The John Howard Society-operated drop-in centre in downtown Bridgewater. Photo by ©2025 GOOGLEArticle contentJOHN HOWARD SOCIETY RESPONSEArticle contentThe Post reached out to the John Howard Society of Nova Scotia for comment, but messages were not returned as of publication time.Article contentHowever, in a social media post, the non-profit responded that “we have heard your concerns about finding used needles, seeing individuals under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and experiencing instances of poor behaviour in the vicinity of Cedar Place.Article content“These issues are understandably distressing for our community, and we share your concern about the safety and well-being of everyone in Bridgewater.Article content“We are not a safe injection site, a managed alcohol site, an overnight shelter, or a stabilization/sobering centre. The services we provide aim to meet the basic needs of our clients and help them build a path toward recovery and stability,” the John Howard Society’s post read.
CBRM monitoring Bridgewater situation after green-lighting supportive housing unit for North Sydney
