'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
BREAKING Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for 2023 daycare crash deaths
A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a bus rammed into a Montreal-area daycare last year.
Trudeau's latest pre-budget pledge targets millennial moms, vowing $1B in loans for more child-care spaces
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
BREAKING Calgary officer charged after allegedly assaulting handcuffed man
A Calgary police officer has been charged after allegedly assaulting a handcuffed man two years ago.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
How do you navigate the social media minefield with your kids?
Growing fears about social media's harm have sparked lawsuits against social media companies from hundreds of school districts in the United States and now Canada. CTVNews.ca wants to know whether your children are addicted to social media or if you have concerns about their usage of platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and X.