There’s new fencing at Ensemble Moncton, at the corner of Gordon and Weldon Streets.

Executive Director Debby Warren says it’s not to keep people away from the harm reduction site, “It’s about providing some privacy for the individuals that we serve, who are not very well at all. That’s a primary concern. The other concern is around perhaps containing the population that access our services, and prevent them from moving into areas of our neighbours.”

She adds the centre will use two entrances now, with the overdose prevention site using the door at the rear, and those accessing harm reduction services using the front entrance.

“Having them contained in the back area of the building, my staff can better monitor clients and access them should they go into an overdose. It’s not at all to deter people from coming, just trying to manage the traffic flow. We have lots of people coming and going and we’re just trying to make the traffic a little more manageable,” Warren says.

Plans to add fencing have been in the works for the past six to seven months. Warren says they’re also adding more lighting and security as well, “Municipal government covered the cost of the fencing and lighting, and the provincial government is paying for the security, “Warren says.

A new 24/7 drop-in centre recently opened on St. George Street and is run by the John Howard Centre. “Our clients are welcome there to be out of the cold. That brings great assurance, because we are still traumatized by the death of Luke, and we don’t want a reoccurrence of that,” Warren stated.

Luke Landry died in November 2022 in a public washroom in front of Moncton City Hall. He had been released from provincial jail earlier that day but didn’t have a place to go.
After being released, he had visited the Ensemble Moncton site.