Ottawa’s last supervised drug‑consumption sites , the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre and the Trailer at Shepherds of Good Hope, will close on Friday as provincial funding expires on June 13. Community members and health professionals warn that the shutdown will push drug use into public spaces, increase overdose deaths, and strain emergency services.

Sixteen‑Year Legacy of the Sandy Hill Site Ends Friday at 6 p.m.

Dean Dewar, director of consumption and treatment services at Sandy Hill, said the site will cease supervised injection at 6 p.m. Friday. The centre, which opened in 2018, has served over 1,750 people, according to the city’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Trevor Arnason. Dewar expressed deep concern that the loss of supervised care will leave vulnerable clients without a safe place to use.

The Trailer’s Closure May Push Users Into Lowertown Alleyways

Four doctors at Ottawa Inner City Health, which runs The Trailer, issued a joint statement warning that drug use will shift to alleyways, transit stations and public washrooms. They predict “more visible public drug use, more emergency calls and increased pressure on paramedic and police services in the Market and surrounding Lowertown neighbourhoods.” The statement echoes Dr. Arnason’s memo that about 1,750 people rely on the sites and that overdoses will rise.

Barry Fyfe’s Personal Testimony Highlights Human Cost

Barry Fyfe, who frequents the Sandy Hill site twice a day, said staff have saved his life during multiple overdoses. he warned Ottawa will soon regret the closures, adding that users will “find a way to use regardless” and that “there’s gonna be a lot of used gear left out.” Fyfe’s experience underscores the sites’ role as lifelines for those struggling with addiction.

Community Opposition and the Debate Over Public Safety

Keith Nuthall of the Downtown Ottawa Condominium Alliance criticized the Sandy Hill site, citing increased break‑ins, assaults and open drug dealing since 2018. Nuthall, representing 4,200 condo owners, believes the site has made his neighbourhood less safe and expects improvement once it closes. His stance reflects the broader controversy over supervised consumption in Ottawa.

Uncertain Outcomes: Who Will Fill the Gap?

Peter Tilley, CEO of The Ottawa Mission, said his staff are preparing with naloxone kits and training, yet he fears the consequences are inevitable. John Heckbert of Operation Come Home, serving street‑involved youth, predicts a higher risk of overdose and worries that users will shift to public spaces closer to his organization. The exact impact on emergency services and public safety remains unknown.

What’s Still Unclear About the Aftermath?

How many overdoses will rise once the sites close? Will paramedics, firefighters, police and hospitals experience a measurable increase in calls? And will the city’s public safety metrics improve after the sites shut down, as some residents anticipate? These questions linger as Ottawa braces for the first week without supervised consumption.