January 21, 2026
-by Rankin MacDonald
Sat there at my desk wondering if I should go or pass on it.
There was to be a meeting in Inverness to discuss the hard drug issue in Inverness County, and I had attended and moderated hundreds of such meetings over the past 50 years.
These meetings are unpredictable.
Some are the model of Robert’s Rules while others are just gatherings to allow people to get a hump off their backs.
Figured this meeting would be fractious because of the topic.
Just couldn’t take another meeting with people yelling at each other.
Then the news arrived.
It was a great meeting and with today’s technology you could peek from behind the electronic door.
Dwayne Beaton must be commended for getting this meeting organized and for keeping it flowing smoothly.
A lot of people there know the sickness drugs and alcohol addiction can inflict on your family.
You try everything, but as much as you love them and try to get them clean and sober it is always the individual who has to call the final halt.
Your heart breaks for these addicts and you thank God you don’t have a terrible story to tell.
People took this meeting very seriously, wanting solutions and not finger pointing. Addiction can affect any family.
Courageous, impressive young women, Charlene MacIsaac and Rhonda Wiswell, told their stories about losing all the great things in life because of drugs, and we saw clearly the terrible loss drugs can cause a person and a community.
We need strong, articulate people like that to help lead us to a better day.
Once upon a time, over a half century ago, some Invernessers in Calgary used to visit this well-read, great conversationalist who had a house by the Bow and whose people came from Inverness.
One night, a fellow dropped in and the old friend who was an addict asked him if he wanted to try heroin. Why not see what it’s like? The homeowner did his heroin and headed to the bathroom where he threw up for about 10 minutes.
The puke-fest stopped our visitor, and he never tried a hard drug in his life.
If our friend hadn’t thrown up, there would be no Oran today. How would that change our place?
The best is never trying it, because you’ll die on the spot, become an addict, and lose all you love in life as your family and friends pray for your health.
When addicts get out of recovery they have no place to go except to return to their drug-friends as they battle the craving each day.
As MP Jaime Battiste pointed out, there has to be a place recovering addicts can go to continue the cure, which would include therapists.
A place for recovering addicts to live could be in Inverness, the centre of the county, and do wonders for a decrease in those whose lives are controlled by drugs. It’s close to a hospital.
You couldn’t help being proud of the over 300 who attended the meeting.
They set a course, it was important to their families, the health care system, and the individual addict, and this course is in our best interests for those we love.
Jaime and Kyle, we look to you for help.
