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home / 世界杯决赛2022

'a lot of helping hands': safety, security top priority at new stc emergency shelter

'the more people that support this in our community — not just in this neighbourhood but in our community in saskatoon — is how we're going to make a difference ...," stc chief mark arcand said.

by saskatoon starphoenix

dec 12 2022
read time 3 minute read
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having a place to rest safely at night, to get in from the cold and to receive a helping hand can make all the difference for those who access the services offered by saskatoon tribal council’s new emergency wellness centre, one client says.
“i truly understand that and believe there is a second chance for everyone,” said a man who identified himself as mark, during a recent media tour of stc’s new emergency centre on fairmont drive.
“there’s a lot of helping hands here.”

in june, the province announced it would transition government-funded emergency shelter services from the lighthouse supported living inc. to other community partners. the  decision  came after court documents were made public showing former lighthouse executive director don windels improperly benefitted from  personal loans taken from the charity.

about half the lighthouse’s emergency shelter beds were transferred to the salvation army earlier this year. the stc’s fairmont drive facility has taken take the remainder of the former lighthouse beds, along with people sheltered in an stc-run facility on first avenue north, for a total of just over 100. in addition to those beds, there is overflow space that can be used as necessary.
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the facility and staff at the fairmont drive centre provide shelter and food, of course, mark said. but there’s one other element that staff have provided him personally. “confidence, knowing there is a chance out there.”
mark, who moved from the saskatoon tribal council-run shelter downtown to the new emergency wellness centre on fairmont drive, says the stc has welcomed him, “with open arms.’
mark, who moved from the saskatoon tribal council-run shelter downtown to the new emergency wellness centre on fairmont drive, says the stc has welcomed him, “with open arms.’ matt smith / saskatoon starphoenix
the new site, which will be expanded and renovated, will include a commercial kitchen, expanded shower facilities, and four pods — one for men, one for women, one for overflow, and one for families. it will also have a television room and more laundry services.
stc chief mark arcand said his organization has listened to those who use emergency services and is trying to learn from what has worked — and, just as importantly, not worked — at similar facilities.
an example, he noted that at the lighthouse in downtown saskatoon, clients often complained about people rummaging through other people’s property.
what those staying at the shelter carried with them was often all they had in the world, arcand said.
“if they’re losing it, they’re going to get angry,” he added.
as a result, one priority at the stc shelters has been security. those staying at the fairmont drive shelter place all their property in a bin, which is then kept in a secure area inside.
when people enter the sleeping pods, they have bins for their belongings that are watched over by staff at the new stc emergency wellness centre on fairmont drive.
when people enter the sleeping pods, they have bins for their belongings that are watched over by staff at the new stc emergency wellness centre on fairmont drive. matt smith / saskatoon starphoenix
the fairmont facility has 20 people working per eight hour shift, not including paramedics or other specialized staff on site.
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“inside this facility, inside our property, we are doing what we have to do to keep people safe … safety is a priority of our people, all people,” arcand said.
“safety is a priority. security is a priority.”
making sure people have enough food is another key priority. for an average homeowner, when they’re hungry at 8 p.m., they can go to the fridge or cupboard and grab a snack, arcand said. “why can’t other people have that?”
stc couldn’t get anyone to rent a space for its wellness centre until the city of saskatoon offered a lease at a nominal rate for the location downtown. then, in november, saskatchewan housing corporation (shc) provided the former church in the fairhaven neighbourhood for stc to lease for its emergency wellness centre.
within two days of opening earlier this month, 97 out of 106 spaces were filled.
stc is relying on provincial funding as well as donations. sometimes the donations come in the form of money. other times it’s food. in its early days of operations, stc received a donation of 300 pairs of socks. anything and everything that can help provide services to those in need is welcome, he said.
“the more people that support this in our community — not just in this neighbourhood but in our community in saskatoon — is how we’re going to make a difference in helping people in our province and in our city,” arcand said.

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“i think we’re leading by example.”
stc chief mark arcand.
stc chief mark arcand. matt smith / saskatoon starphoenix
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