The non-smoking policy instigated at the Whitby Mental Health Hospital earlier this summer has had an impact on the enjoyment of the Waterfront trails and really left some of us wondering. Has anyone else noticed the garbage, the loitering and overall the uneasy feeling you get when you ride or walk on the trail or go to the beach? Not sure who all these individuals are - if they are patients or employees, but they are lying down, hanging out and leaving garbage. If the teenagers did this, the cops would be all over them. Is it just me, or is this a concern for others? Isn't this public property?
I also agree!!
I used to love taking my kids down to the beach and let my lil one throw rocks in the water and enjoy the view and peacefulness.
My last experience down there - and unfortunatly I do mean LAST - was a little uncomfortable. I had parked our bike with the child buggy attached on the path and went down to the waters edge. Out of the bushes came a man with a butt in his mouth and he stood staring at the kids and I. He then kicked the tire of the bike and went back in the bush. Then he popped back out and said nice bike and into the trees he went. I quickly ended our trip and as we were riding away he popped out again and stared at us leaving.
I have had no issue with living by the hospital but I have never felt threatened. Now every time we take the path we have to by pass the beach area and ride through a bunch of smokers rocking back and forth, cursing out foul language and spitting all over the place. Not a nice experience.
We are the ones paying property tax to live in this area and we are the ones paying a big price for the hospital's new rules. We live by such an amazing natural setting that we are now forced to avoid. How unfair is that?
Liz - do you know what the reasoning was behind the smoking ban on the grounds and if anything can be done about the negative impact on the residents of this area?
Hello All,
The matter of the smoking ban at the hospital has come out of the Clean Air Initiative legislation that commenced on May 31st, 2007.
http://www.whitbymentalhealthcentre.ca/newsMay15.htm
I have attached the link to the website about their initiative. Over the past weeks this has increasingly become an issue in your area. There has been meetings with the hospital representation between the town and the hospital. I have seen the smokers that are at the bottom of Gordon over in the parking lot and on the outskirts of the property.
This past Tuesday night the park for Eggert Park was approved for the tender. The matters of the smoking came up in this discussion.
I am going to take a copy of this thread and pass it on to the rest of council.
Also for those who have additional experiences that they have encountered over the past months can you email me at roye@whitby.ca.
Liz
Thanks Jordan,
With respects to onsite area I couldn't agree more and this is something that both the board needs to hear and the management team.
I will keep the forum posted of updates as this moves forward.
Regards
Elizabeth Roy
J.J. I don't blame you for being concerned, the security on these so-called nonviolent patients is a bloody joke. I feel sorry for the people who are going to be living across the street from WMH.
Hi everybody.
I am a bit concern about safety. I think that patients are missing from the Mental Hospital too often. Last Thursday night when I went to pick up my daughter from her shift at Tim Hortons, she was waiting for me behind the window and a bit scared. Police officers had been there asking the staff if they had seen somebody "a bit stranger than usual", a patient that didn't return to the mental hospital. Here is the link to the police website:
http://www.drps.ca/internet_explorer/wha...p?ID=11864
I wonder if the criteria used at the hospital to determine a person's danger is appropriate. I am not an expert, but if the police report says ..." He has a history of violence and substance abuse. If he is seen, citizens are asked to call 9-1-1 and are advised not to approach him..." is kind of obvious that this is a dangerous person.
Kids are used to play in the streets and bike around and I am afraid that we have a safety problem very close.
http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/whitby/article/86501
Recent news article that has come from the discussion at council.
It is interesting how the modelling of this included staff and clients and not the neighbouring community.
Staff are working with this as outlined.
Very disappointed by the lack of any consideration towards the surrounding community.
Liz
If the misinformation you speak of has anything to do with WMHC staff and residents walking off WHMC property to smoke and dispose of their butts and styrofoam (styrofoam? really in 2008?) coffee cups in our neighbourhood and WHMC downloading their smoking problem to our neighbourhood so they can advertise themselves as a smoke-free property then please inform us how this is not the case? WHMC has a huge property where a proper designated smoking area could be set up where staff and residents would be encouraged to congregate to get their fixes but instead the Whitby Shores Community is forced to deal with the garbage and loitering.
We've even had a park put on hold because it would have ended up being THE PLACE TO GO for all of the smokers due to its proximity to the hospital.
It's an easy fix ... you guys deal with the problem so we don't have, but thanks for picking up some of those cigarette butts and styrofoam cups.
If the misinformation you speak of has anything to do with WMHC staff and residents walking off WHMC property to smoke and dispose of their butts and styrofoam (styrofoam? really in 2008?) coffee cups in our neighbourhood and WHMC downloading their smoking problem to our neighbourhood so they can advertise themselves as a smoke-free property then please inform us how this is not the case? WHMC has a huge property where a proper designated smoking area could be set up where staff and residents would be encouraged to congregate to get their fixes but instead the Whitby Shores Community is forced to deal with the garbage and loitering.
We've even had a park put on hold because it would have ended up being THE PLACE TO GO for all of the smokers due to its proximity to the hospital.
It's an easy fix ... you guys deal with the problem so we don't have, but thanks for picking up some of those cigarette butts and styrofoam cups.
I couldn't have said it better myself! I am so happy someone has the goleones to speakup about this, way to go SRETAV!!!!!!
I don't have a problem with the residents at all. They're there to get the help they need to get better or to manage the problems they have. By some standards their behaviour may be deemed a bit strange and even a bit off putting to some but they aren't the issue. They have as much right to walk around the neighbourhood as any of us do.
My problem is the downloading of a WHMC issue (re: smoking) onto our neighbourhood which has resulted in loitering and a great deal of garbage (including a blanket of cigarette butts in what is supposed to be a clean and green park setting). The hospital has a huge property. Set up a fence enclosed area away from the road and the pedestrian sidewalks and encourage the residents and staff to smoke there and to keep it clean. They still couldn't smoke in or near the buildings but they also won't be negatively impacting the neighbourhood around them.
It appears that they are there to stay (which is their right as free citizens) but it would have been nice if the hospital had stepped up and provided a more appropriate smoking area for them. A new cement pad and 3 new benches have been installed at that corner. By installing these elements, either the hospital or the city is endorsing the corner as the "preferred" designated smoking area (neighbours be damned). At least they'll be more comfortable now.
I feel most sorry for the new condo that is likely to be built at that corner. Good luck selling units. Maybe that's why rumours are swirling that the big end unit in the plaza is going to be rented by the developer of the old Psych lands for their sales office. Maybe they'll trick a few people into buying because they won't be aware of the loitering on the adjacent corner. Nice view. As they say .... "buyer beware".