'It's a calmer atmosphere': Saskatoon Tribal Council opens new emergency shelter
The Saskatoon Tribal Council's (STC) Wellness Centre has opened its doors in Fairhaven and is nearly at capacity.
The facility has 106 beds, and there are currently 97 people staying at shelter.
Mark, who would not disclose his last name, is staying at the Centre.
"It's beautifully laid out. We have everything we need," he said.
The new facility includes four rooms, one for men, women, families and overflow, with about 30 beds each. It also has two bathrooms for men and women, rooms providing entertainment, a dining area, laundry service and showers.
In total, more than 60 staff members work a 24-hour cycle, including a counsellor, a paramedic and 20 peacekeepers.
Relatives, as Chief Arcand refers to people using the facility, will be given a bin to secure their stuff.
"It's a bigger facility than downtown. It's a calmer atmosphere," said Chief Arcand.
"Safety is a priority. Security is a priority, but also feeding people".
For exits, the building uses a one-way in and one-way out system.
STC plans to expand the Fairhaven location to include more storage and office space for social services and renovate the pods to make them more individualized as soon as the spring.
DOWNTOWN LOCATION CLOSING
With one door opening, another is closing, as the STC's downtown location is set to shut down.
According to Chief Arcand, with its current funding, it can only be open from 10 p.m. to 10 a.m.
"We shouldn't be kicking people out during the day and then telling them to come back," said Arcand.
Arcand is calling on more funding for the downtown centre to help keep it functioning 24 hours a day.
"We need to feed people when they're in our facility. We need to take care of them."
Arcand says 20 people stayed at the location on Thursday night, while the Fairhaven location is almost at capacity.
"That's the question: where they're going to go? Because I think the whole system that they decide in regards to these warm-up shelters is wrong."
According to Arcand, the downtown facility is set to close on Sunday, December 4th.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.