Brockville’s Overdose Outreach Team

03/26/2026

https://gofund.me/6509386d8

Hi, my name is Ashley, I am fundraising for one of my best friends Telena … Elizabeth Jones needs your support for a mother and kids who suffered a house fire

01/13/2026

The Warming Center is moving up in the world!!

𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 | 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲

The United Counties of Leeds and Grenville is pleased to announce that the temporary warming centre in Brockville Ontario will relocate to a new facility at 166 Pearl Street East. The space will be located in the vacant EarlyON Centre at the vacant Commonwealth Public School, which has a separate entrance on the East side of the building. The new space will open at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 15, 2026. This change will better serve individuals accessing the warming centre during the coldest months of the year.

The warming centre will remain staffed by two support workers and will be monitored by on-site security personnel, operating seven days a week from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Those using the warming centre will have access to water, coffee, light snacks, gravity chairs, and blankets, paired with intensive case management.

“We are thankful to the Upper Canada District School Board for granting us temporary access to this facility. This new location allows us to provide a safe and more comfortable environment for those using the centre and we are continuing to work toward a permanent solution,” said Warden Corinna Smith-Gatcke. “Our priority remains protecting life and safety, and we appreciate the community’s support as we make these improvements.”

The Counties wish to thank the residents of 55 Reynolds Drive and the broader community for their patience and understanding as we worked to secure a more suitable space.

As a reminder, the Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Addictions and Mental Health (LLGAMH), Drop-In Centre have extended hours to better serve clients. The Drop-In, located at 25 Front Avenue West, South Entrance, is now open 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., seven days a week until April 30, 2026. Clients can access the Drop-In for a safe, warm, and welcoming place to access basic needs such as laundry and shower facilities and cellphone charging.

Read online: https://www.leedsgrenville.com/Modules/News/index.aspx?newsId=69a42716-7ee7-4c0f-b14c-ca83a5723488

01/07/2026

01/04/2026

Had to throw one together about the warming center s**t show that's somehow happening again tonight!!

01/01/2026

Let's start 2026 off with some fun!!
Let's see how many endings to this statement we can all come up with.

Kicking someone out of treatment for using is as ridiculous as...
⁷

Getting kicked out of winners for finding a good deal!

Getting kicked out of the emergency department for experiencing chest pain!

Getting kicked out of Food Basics for grocery shopping!

Getting kicked out of a retirement home for being over the age of 75!

Getting kicked out of school for learning!

Getting kicked out of your dentist's office for having tooth pain😬

People are being kicked out of treatment centers for the exact reason they're!! Not being successful at refraining from use is quite literally one of the boxes to tick in order to qualify as having a substance use disorder!!

Don't forget to leave your examples in the comment section as we can't wait to see what you guys come up with!!

12/31/2025

Updated!!

12/31/2025

You definitely succeeded in providing care support and a safe space, you were a place for people to feel connected and seen. You kept people alive and gave them hope. These are the moments that aren't ever forgotten and keep people going! These are the spaces Brockville needs more of!

We are obviously devastated by the closure of the CCC and will continue to advocate for an emergency shelter in our community. Such a loss that is already being felt by those who accessed their services and community partners.

We would like to extend a heartfelt big ol' Thank You to everyone who was a part of making the Cooperative Care Centre everything it needed to be ❤️

It is with great sadness that, as of 8:00 AM today, our doors closed to our guests. For just over five years, we have had the privilege of serving our community, standing alongside those who needed us most. From day one, our focus has been to provide care, support, and a safe space for the most vulnerable among us.

We feel truly blessed to have had the opportunity to make a difference, and we are profoundly grateful for the partnerships we’ve formed and the community connections that have strengthened our work. Your generosity, kindness, and belief in our mission have allowed us to continue showing up every day for those who rely on us.

Your unwavering support has reminded us why we do what we do. While this chapter comes to a close, the memories, friendships, and impact we’ve shared will remain with us forever.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everyone who walked alongside us, supported us, and believed in the work we do. Together, we have created hope, compassion, and humanity in our community, and that is something that will never be lost.

12/31/2025

Please Share This Information!!

The Counties have opened up a warming center in the Comfort Inn Hotel (behind Food Basics), presumably due to the devastating closure of the Cooperative Care Centre after having their funding pulled and redirected towards other community services.

The location will be at the Comfort Inn tonight and tomorrow night before moving to 55 Reynolds Drive beginning this Friday, Jan 2nd.

While rooms are available tonight and tomorrow at the Comfort Inn it is our understanding that the Reynolds location will not have beds available for folks to stay the night but is still a place for people to stop in and warm up for a few minutes and grab a snack.

If anyone needs to access this service over the next two days, either for themselves or someone else, the number to call is 613-499-9962.

We need to let people know this is an option so spread the word Brockville and while we're here we'd also like to wish you all a SAFE & HAPPY NEW YEAR 🎊


Regardless of the substance being consumed don't use it alone, pace yourself, be sure to have eaten and stay hydrated, don't leave your substance out of your sight, be with people you trust, trust your gut if something doesn't feel right and please watch out for each other!

❤️ BOOT

12/23/2025

So confused at the moment!!!

12/23/2025

WELCOME TO THROUGH THE SMOKE AND MIRRORS

A new series from BOOT where we call out the agencies and powers who be that are telling us one thing when the reality experienced by those accessing their services and the front line workers advocating on their behalf tells a very different story

The narrative we were given
There are only 3 people in Leeds Grenville who we have Blacklisted from accessing a hotel as a means of shelter. Not enough to impact their decision to pull the emergency shelters funding at the end of the year.
Shanna Culhane - Director of Community and Social Services during the Nov 4th Joint Services Committee meeting.
https://pub-uclg.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=e6ef5354-577d-410c-a1bc-15634ceb675d&Agenda=Agenda&lang=English
However, over the past two weeks we have encountered 17 people who were denied a hotel room for the night when we could find no other shelter options for them.
17 In 2 weeks because the CCC was full-what's going to look like if it closes??
Paying for a hotel to provide emergency shelter rather than continuing to fund the actual emergency shelter who also provides food, resources and connection never made sense in the first place and now knowing the number is much higher than 3 in regards to people who won't have Access to this service it makes even less sense that this was presented as a viable option to keep people alive this winter. Yet we're continuing to hear about it still!!
Front line workers spend more time trying to jump through hoops and bargaining than they do with the client only to be told no. Sometimes given an explanation but it rarely makes sense, often no explanation is given and we are left to try and explain to the person why they don't deserve a roof over their head when everyone knows there are empty spaces available...
According to a recent article in the recorder & Times, both the vote to discontinue & the motion to extend the funding was shot down over concerns of financial information.
REALLY?!!
You're giving part the money to LLGAMH (which is so messed up for so many reasons but that's another post for another day-stay tuned!)-the agency who now employs the manager who was responsible for the funding during that time frame!!
you know who always think people are lying to them...people who easily & often lie themselves
Front line workers spend more time trying to jump through hoops and bargaining than they do with the client only to be told no. Sometimes given an explanation but it rarely makes sense, more often no explanation is given and we are left to try and explain to this person why they don't deserve a roof over their head when we keep hearing there are all these empty spaces available…
We, the members of this community, deserve to know the truth in these matters. Spinning this narrative of all the services and housing options available in Brockville implies that people experiencing homelessness are choosing not to access them. It fans the flames of the stigma and discrimination faced by one of the most vulnerable populations & needs to stop!

12/23/2025

We cordially invite The Honorable Matt Wren, Mayor of Brockville, and Shanna Culhane, Director of Community and Social Services for The United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, to join us for a day of frontline work, focusing on finding housing for community members in need. We extend an invitation to Ronald Zajak or John Lawless from the Recorder & Times to join us for part of the day. We are looking forward to spending this time with each of you, wishing you a wonderful day!