Prince Albert Salvation Army finds new home at Union Centre after Christmas night fire
CBC
After a devastating fire destroyed Prince Albert’s Salvation Army building on Christmas night, the charity has found a space to lease in the northern Saskatchewan city’s downtown.
"The people that we serve, just because we had a fire doesn’t mean that their needs have changed," said Prince Albert Salvation Army Maj. Ed Dean.
"So we have continued to provide those same services, just in a different location."
The Salvation Army said its community services building at 900 Centre Ave. is considered a total loss after the fire, which broke out around 8 p.m. on Dec. 25, as the building's roof collapsed.
Its daytime and overnight warming centre moved into the Union Centre on Friday, providing people a safe warm space to warm up from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., seven days a week.
Dean says the kitchen at the Union Centre allows the community meal program to continue at noon, six days a week. The meal is run completely by volunteers.
The Salvation Army’s church worship space was also destroyed in the fire. Dean said Church of the Nazarene in Prince Albert has since offered its church and some office space.
The Union Centre has agreed to lease the Salvation Army the space until September 2026.
The City of Prince Albert funds the overnight warming centre through a $260,000 grant from the provincial government.
Mayor Bill Powalinsky said he's grateful for the staff and volunteers that came together over the holidays to keep the Salvation Army services open. The Prince Albert Grand Council Urban Services, YWCA, Mobile Crisis Team, Prince Albert Security and the Prince Albert Métis Women’s Association were among the organizations that helped.
Many businesses, community groups and private citizens also donated to the temporary shelter.
Powalinsky said he was overwhelmed at the clothing donations collected at a recent Prince Albert Raiders hockey game.
"Our PA Raider drive, we packed the paratransit bus with donations, almost up to the ceiling, front to back. Again, just an indication of how we are the third-largest city in the province, but we have a small-town heart," said Powalinsky.
The Salvation Army also received one-quarter of the Raiders 50/50 draw from the game, for a total of about $8,500.
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