A vanity case filled with “five crack pipes and about eight needles.” It is found at the area around Valley View Towers in North Battleford. (Submitted/ Michael Landrie)

By battlefordsNOW staff

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Needle sightings typical during spring thaw, says city fire chief

Apr 5, 2025 | 11:41 AM

As the melting snow uncovers more discarded needles in North Battleford, a resident has noticed an increased presence around his home, and city officials indicate that this situation is anticipated for this time of year.

“Unfortunately, right now, it’s the time of year where we’ve got a spring thaw going, so as the snow melts, needles will pop up and the fire department will dispose of them at any time when a resident does find one,” said Lindsay Holm, the city’s Director of Protective Services and Fire Chief.

Holm said the city is currently collecting “about 20 a day in terms of actual needles being picked up,” between the Fire Department and Community Safety Officers (CSOs).

For Michael Landrie, who lives at Valley View Towers, the problem has been ongoing since he moved in last April.

“What we’re experiencing [is] a high volume of needles being disposed of or dropped behind the building,” he said. “We’ve had the fire department come out and pick up the needles. We’ve had the CSO come up and pick up the needles.”

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He said he’s found more than just needles. Crack pipes and other drug paraphernalia are regularly left behind. In one case, he discovered a vanity case filled with “five crack pipes and about eight needles.”

He estimates he has personally picked up between 20 and 30 needles. “It’s not uncommon to find one every day,” he said.

The city has also installed a needle drop-off box at Valley View, Holm added.

Landrie went on to share that he and his neighbours also attempt to intervene when they see drug use happening, despite the risks.

“There’s a couple of us individuals that are younger… and we go out and tell the individuals, ‘Hey, you can’t do that,’ and it’s become routine.”

The city urges residents not to report found needles through 911.

“It should be phoning directly down to City Hall and they will process the location of the needle and they will relay that information to the fire department,” Holm said. “We will go out and collect it.”

Residents who are comfortable picking up needles themselves are advised to use a puncture-proof container such as a glass jar and wear rubber or puncture-resistant gloves.

The needle should be picked up by the non-pointed end, without attempting to re-cap it. Once sealed and stored safely out of reach of children, the container can be dropped off at one of several locations:

• 1100 block of 102nd Street (across from the Kramer Building)
• Frontier Mall parking lot
• Battlefords Indian & Métis Friendship Centre

Used needles can also be taken to Battle River Treaty 6 Health for its needle exchange program . If someone is accidentally poked, they are advised to squeeze the wound, wash it with soap and water, and immediately go to the hospital emergency department.

As a long-time local, Landrie says he’s proud of his city and doesn’t want to see it defined by its challenges.

“I don’t like that stigma of ‘crime town’ and everything because I grew up [here]… my grandfather was here, my dad was here,” he said.

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com