The Chamber welcomed news of the permanent shelter and wellness centre that will be operated by the Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC) set to open on November 15. The building for the new shelter, and surrounding 4.5 acres of land, was purchased by the provincial government for $5M with the STC leasing the space.

In June, the Chamber proposed criteria for the approval of any new shelter facilities in Saskatoon to balance the needs of all stakeholders including, most importantly, shelter resident who deserve a place to live in safety and dignity:  

1. Require 75-100 square feet of on-site outdoor space per facility resident.
2. Avoid arterial roadways unless the site offers suitable access that will not impede traffic
3. Ensure appropriate outdoor space for cultural ceremony

We thank provincial Social Services Minister Gene Makowsky, Mayor Charlie Clark, and Tribal Chief Mark Arcand for meeting with the Chamber over the past several months to discuss ways to better serve the needs of those experiencing homelessness and our wider community.

As outdoor temperatures start to drop, the new wellness centre will provide people experiencing homelessness with clean, safe and warm accommodation over the winter months.

It will provide an opportunity for STC to continue to deliver its ground-breaking, Indigenous-led approach in buildings and grounds better suited to the complex needs of shelter residents.

And, it will address long-standing concerns from downtown business owners and residents around the concentration and impact of shelter facilities on their lives and property.