Saskatoon Tribal Council chief fires back at pastor after call to defund Fairhaven shelter
CBC
A Saskatoon pastor wants the province to defund and close a shelter he blames for an increase in crime and violence in his neighbourhood — prompting an accusation of racism and a "colonial mentality" from one First Nations leader.
Robert Pearce, a local pastor who has said he intends to run for the Ward 3 council seat in this November's civic election, says since the Saskatoon Tribal Council's Wellness Centre opened in the Fairhaven neighbourhood in December 2022, crime and violence have increased in the area.
Pearce, whose Fairmont Baptist Church is just a few hundred metres from the wellness centre, wrote an open letter to Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and several government ministers — which he also posted to social media — outlining his concerns about the centre, including "property damage, vandalism and thefts … costing us thousands of dollars."
His post on X (formerly Twitter) also described what he called "a harrowing experience," saying someone tried to jump him and get inside his church.
"I don't know that it's directly related to the shelter, to be honest, and I don't think I've ever stated that I believe it's directly related," Pearce told CBC in a Thursday interview.
"What I do know is since the shelter opened, man, our crime rates have gone through the roof."
He also said that homeowners in the area have seen their property values plummet by thousands of dollars since the shelter opened.
"I'm not aware of any other community in any city … that's been required to take so much loss on themselves personally in order to accommodate this," he said.
His letter outlines solutions he'd like to see, such as a long-term facility located at least two kilometres away from any residential community, social services to manage shelters, proper seasonal shelters, and a 30-person limit for shelters.
But his social media post says the current shelter, which he calls a "colossal failure," should be "defunded and closed until better solutions are created."
The 24/7, 106-bed emergency wellness centre, operated by the Saskatoon Tribal Council, has been the target of criticism before.
It relocated from the city's downtown to the Fairhaven neighbourhood, in southwest Saskatoon, in late 2022, offering supports for people struggling with homelessness and other challenges, like addictions.
Last May, Ward 3 Coun. David Kirton said he has seen a negative impact in the neighbourhood from the centre, and called for a review of the wellness centre and its location.
At that point, Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Mark Arcand said he was "blindsided" by the councillor's criticism.
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.
Acute Care Alberta has extended its contract for another year with a private surgical facility at the centre of probes into health procurement and contracting.
As food bank use continues to climb across the province, front-line workers in Thunder Bay, Ont., are working to improve both food security and education.
More ads could soon be coming to Toronto’s subway system.