Work is moving ahead on a long-awaited sobering centre in Thompson, Manitoba, now that $2.8 million in provincial funding has been released to support renovations. The project, led by Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO), will provide a safe place for people who are publicly intoxicated to sober up under supervision rather than being arrested or sent to the emergency room.
The Manitoba government announced the money back in June 2020, but disagreements over the design — particularly whether the centre should have locked rooms — stalled progress for years. MKO took over operations of the city’s shelter in July 2023, renamed it the Wellbriety Centre, and committed to establishing a separate sobering space inside the building.
Thompson city council recently approved the release of the funds that had been held in trust. Mayor Colleen Smook says work has been moving ahead through MKO while awaiting access to the money, which can now be used as needed as the project enters its final phase.
The need for a sobering centre has been clear for years. In 2019, more than 2,000 people were detained in Thompson under Manitoba’s Intoxicated Persons Detention Act. While that law has since been replaced with the Protective Detention and Care of Intoxicated Persons Act, Thompson RCMP still lodge hundreds of people each month for being publicly intoxicated.
The centre is designed for non-violent individuals who need a place to wait out the effects of alcohol or drugs. Backers say it will free up police and hospital resources while offering a more compassionate response to intoxication in the community.
