WINNIPEG — Manitoba has opened its first supervised consumption site in a temporary central Winnipeg location, a step provincial officials said is intended to reduce overdose deaths and link people who use drugs with treatment and supports.
Temporary site now fully staffed and operational
Manitoba's addictions minister, Bernadette Smith, said the opening is “special but bittersweet,” noting the urgency that prompted the province to accelerate the facility into operation after a limited opening earlier in June.
“We can’t treat people who aren’t alive,” said Smith. “So this is a place for folks to go to get supervised with their substances, but also more importantly, to get connected with supports and services so they can get on to a path of recovery.”
The government says the site is now fully staffed and operational for the temporary space. There are eight staff on site, including two nurses, clinicians, mentors and wayfinders whose role is to help people transition to other services once they are no longer considered to be at immediate risk.
| Staff type | Number |
|---|---|
| Registered nurses | 2 |
| Other staff (clinicians, mentors, wayfinders) | 6 |
| Total staff | 8 |
Service model and operator
The facility does not provide drugs. Instead, it offers a supervised environment intended to reduce the harms associated with substance use while providing direct connection to health and social services. The province said the site will emphasize both clinical care and pathways to recovery.
Aboriginal Health and Wellness is operating the site in partnership with the provincial government. In a statement, the organization said the program will follow a culturally safe, holistic model of care that honours the dignity of people served while also maintaining accountability to the surrounding community.
Location and local concerns
The temporary building sits in an area primarily surrounded by auto repair shops. It is a short block from a playground and located across from a banquet hall — details that have been raised by critics who worry about impacts on neighbourhood safety and family spaces.
Some nearby business owners and residents have voiced opposition, citing concerns about security and the suitability of the location. Those objections contributed to delays earlier in the process; the province had originally planned to open a supervised consumption site in 2025 but experienced setbacks, including pushback over the first chosen location.
Political reactions
The opening has prompted debate between government proponents of the harm-reduction approach and opposition politicians who say resources should prioritise treatment capacity.
Progressive Conservative deputy leader Jeff Bereza said the province lacks sufficient recovery and addiction treatment centres and argued funds devoted to the consumption site could have been used to expand treatment. “We don’t have enough recovery or addiction treatment centres here in Manitoba,” Bereza said, adding that delays in getting people into treatment remain a concern.
Next steps and outstanding questions
The province confirmed the current facility is a temporary space and said it is still determining a timeline for when a permanent location will be completed. Manitoba’s addictions minister would not provide an expected date for the permanent site.
- Temporary site: fully staffed and operational after a limited June opening
- Operator: Aboriginal Health and Wellness, offering culturally safe, holistic care
- Staffing: eight staff including two nurses, clinicians, mentors and wayfinders
The move marks a significant policy change for Manitoba, bringing the province in line with other jurisdictions that operate supervised consumption services as part of broader harm-reduction strategies. For neighbours and community stakeholders, questions remain about location, safety and how the site will interact with existing treatment services and local supports.
As the temporary site begins full operations, officials say the program's priorities are immediate overdose prevention and building reliable connections to treatment, housing and other social services for people at risk. The province has framed the site as one part of a continuum of responses to substance use that will require coordination across municipal and provincial services, Indigenous-run providers and community partners.
Local officials and service providers will be watching early use patterns and outcomes closely to assess whether the temporary site reduces harms and helps more people access treatment. The provincial government has not yet released performance targets or timelines for evaluation of the program.
