Saskatoon city councilor, community members concerned about proposed emergency shelter in Sutherland
CBC
A proposed emergency shelter in Saskatoon's Sutherland neighbourhood is drawing concern from some community members and the city councillor who represents them.
The City of Saskatoon said it is working collaboratively with the Saskatchewan government on the final details to prepare for a new 30-space permanent emergency shelter to be located at the former Fire Station No. 5 on Central Avenue.
Two neighbourhood information sessions were planned for this week, but both were postponed by the city.
Ward 1 Coun. Darren Hill is opposed to having the emergency shelter located in Sutherland — an area he represents.
In response to the postponements, he held a public meeting at a school gymnasium in Sutherland on Sunday to discuss the possibility of the proposed emergency shelter being set up in the neighbourhood.
The meeting drew more than 300 people, the city councillor said.
"There were a number of people that spoke passionately about the needs for the shelter beds, and I don't think anybody is disputing that," Hill said in an interview with CBC Radio's Saskatoon Morning.
"But every single individual that spoke had concerns about the safety and the impact that it's going to have on their residential neighbourhood, as well as the elementary school that's only a half a block away."
Hill said those concerns included a rise in crime, more needles in the park and the impact on school operations.
Hill said there are a number of areas where the emergency shelter could go in the city, but it shouldn't be near residential homes, playgrounds or schools.
The facility for people with complex needs — which will be run by the Mustard Seed, an Alberta-based Christian non-profit organization — is supposed to be operational by this spring.
City officials said they delayed the two neighbourhood information sessions planned for this week because they needed more time to come up with the right plan for the shelter before presenting it to the public. They added the meetings will be rescheduled within the month.
"All partners know that the way the shelter will operate is one of the most important questions on the minds of residents and business owners and recognize the need to get the right plan in place before the shelter becomes operational," the city stated in a Friday news release.
The release also said report presentations that were planned for the Feb. 28 city council meeting will also be delayed.
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is getting rid of unlimited mental health benefits for staff, blaming ballooning costs and former administrators for implementing it without proper due diligence or oversight.
Netflix has agreed to buy Warner Bros. Discovery's TV and film studios and streaming division for $72 billion US, a deal that would hand control of one of Hollywood's most prized and oldest assets to the streaming pioneer that has upended the media industry.
CBC Calgary kicks off its annual Make the Season Kind campaign this morning at Fratello Coffee Roasters.
CBC Newfoundland and Labrador is kicking off its annual holiday campaign, helping to raise money to support local food banks.
If all goes according to plan, at 6 a.m. AT on Saturday people working at the IWK Health Centre will become the test case for a generational change to Nova Scotia’s health-care system.
One month after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced what he called "generational" military spending, New Brunswick’s defence ecosystem is on high alert.
Miranda Mirlycourtois, 34, looks directly at the camera and makes a confession.
Saskatoon city hall says police spending is projected to be $2.6 million over budget this year. That pushes the city into a $1.2-million deficit position, according to a report that will be considered by city council next week.
Students at the University of Regina are days away from deciding whether a newly formed student association should become their official representative body.
All public schools on P.E.I. are closed Friday and thousands of Maritime Electric customers are without power as strong winds create hazardous travel conditions across the province.
Prince Rupert, B.C., residents are celebrating the holidays this year with coastal flair.
In the four years Chelsey Simmonds has worked at the Eva Rothwell Centre, she has seen the need increase every year at the centre’s community food pantry.
CBC is once again looking to make the holiday season kind in Windsor-Essex.