Upheaval at Saskatoon Lighthouse as executive director is placed on leave
The executive director at The Lighthouse Supported Living is now on leave, less than a week after the Saskatoon Fire Department revealed it has found dozens of issues at the shelter during inspections over the past year.
According to a letter sent to Lighthouse management and obtained by CTV News, longtime executive director Don Windels was placed on leave as of Tuesday.
Windels' responsibilities will be assumed by two members of the board, Twila Reddekopp and Jerome Hepfner — the authors of the letter.
On Jan. 14, the fire department announced it has issued tickets and orders to correct several hazards. Most of the issues appeared to be "relatively minor" repairs.
In the letter to the shelter's management, Hepfner and Reddekopp said as co-managers they have been tasked with understanding "the true nature" of the Lighthouse's situation, including the cost and scope of the needed repairs.
"There is one opportunity for us to collectively turn things around and bring the Lighthouse back to a place where we are all working together for the betterment of our clients and residents," Hepfner and Reddekopp write.
Windels has not responded to CTV News' request for comment.
Beyond fixing the issues flagged by fire inspectors, the board members write they will review the shelter's security procedures and how they may have played a factor in what they describe as a "current lack of control within the building."
In a statement, the Lighthouse management team said its hopeful the change in leadership does not affect day-to-day operations.
However, due the "uncertainty the situation has created" the management team said it's calling on the Saskatchewan government to appoint a member of the province's Dispute Resolution Office to "constructively work through the issues" all parties are facing.
In a statement, Jeff Redekop, executive director of income assistance service delivery at the Ministry of Social Services said the"ministry continues to engage in conversations with Lighthouse Supported Living regarding their efforts to ensure services for clients continue without disruption."
"They are an autonomous organization, and the ministry is unable to speak to the organization’s human resources," Redekop said.
A justice ministry spokesperson said requests are made to the Dispute Resolution Office confidentially for its fee-for-service mediation, facilitation and conflict resolution services.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
How more than 100 women realized they may have dated, been deceived by the same man
An Ontario man is being accused of changing his name, profession and life story multiple times to potentially more than 100 women online before leaving some out thousands of dollars.

Mother charged with sexual abuse of toddler in Edmonton area after FBI tip
A Strathcona County toddler has been rescued from suspected sexual exploitation, and the child's mother has been charged, police said.
LeBron James becomes NBA's all-time scoring leader, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
LeBron James is the NBA's new career scoring leader. With a stepback jump shot with 10.9 seconds left in the third quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night, James pushed his career total to 38,388 points on Tuesday night and broke the record that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar held for nearly four decades.
Biden in State of Union urges U.S. Congress: 'Finish the job'
U.S. President Joe Biden exhorted Congress Tuesday night to work with him to 'finish the job' of rebuilding the economy and uniting the nation as he delivered a State of the Union address aimed at reassuring a country beset by pessimism and fraught political divisions.
Fears grow for untold numbers buried by Turkiye earthquake as deaths pass 7,700
Rescuers raced against time early Wednesday to pull survivors from the rubble before they succumbed to cold weather two days after an earthquake tore through southern Turkiye and war-ravaged northern Syria. The death toll climbed above 7,700 and was expected to rise further.
Canadian military plane heads home after two surveillance flights over Haiti
A Canadian Armed Forces surveillance plane was heading home on Tuesday after two intelligence-collecting flights over Haiti.
On list of 50 'most Instagrammable' places, only 1 is in Canada
A new ranking by global travel site Big 7 Travel has revealed the most Instagrammable places for people to visit in 2023, but only one Canadian location, Banff, is among them.
Spy balloon part of a broader Chinese military surveillance operation, U.S. intel sources tell CNN
U.S. intelligence officials believe that the recently recovered Chinese spy balloon is part of an extensive surveillance program run by the Chinese military, according to multiple American officials familiar with the intelligence.
From $55 to $130: Which Canadians plan to spend the most this Valentine's Day?
As Valentine's Day approaches, many Canadians are preparing to celebrate by taking their loved ones to dinner and buying them gifts, but how much are we spending on this day coast to coast?