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There are many ways to get away from the cold, but for some it’s not an easy task.
That’s why the Saskatoon Tribal Council’s (STC) Emergency Wellness Centre is providing a safe, warm space for the city’s most vulnerable.
STC recently moved the centre from its original downtown location to a new building in the Fairhaven community, and Tribal Chief Mark Arcand said it’s been a good transition so far.
“This is a way better environment. We have a lot of positive outcomes,” Arcand said. “They’ve got so much room here to sit and be safe, and it’s a good, wide environment. There’s a lot of room.”
Arcand said the community members have been welcoming since the move.
“We’re very thankful for them, because they’re embracing us into their neighbourhood. And we’re going to do the best we can to keep their neighbourhood safe, but at the same time really work together to make sure we’re helping people, because that’s the priority,” he said.
Arcand said people at the centre are respecting each other’s spaces, and both relatives (as the centre’s clients are called) and staff are feeling comfortable.
But there is one constant challenge for the centre, as they have a limited number of beds available. Currently, the centre is only funded for 106 beds, but Arcand said that doesn’t mean people are being sent out into the cold.
“We’re not turning anybody away. That’s not our hope. We’re trying to keep people safe and warm,” Arcand said.
Some nights the centre runs over capacity, with people looking to stay out of the cold. On Wednesday night, for example, Arcand said the centre had 18 people come by simply looking for a place to sleep.
“They’re in our lobby waiting for a bed, so if somebody doesn’t follow the rules or regulations they might be discharged and somebody else will be given a bed,” Arcand said. “In the evenings we pull out extra cots and we put them in the foyer, so they can actually lay down and get a good sleep.”
He said the centre still provides all its clients with meals, and the staff works to connect with other services to get them into a proper space.
Armond Standingready has been staying at the centre since the beginning of the month, and said people should not be afraid to ask for help.
“I had to swallow my pride to come, and I’m glad I did because I now have a direction in which I want to go in,” Standingready said.
He said everyone at the centre has treated him with respect.
“It shows that people are actually caring, and it shows that people have a heart, considering where I came from and what I’ve seen out there. It outweighs the bad and it shows me people still care, and it makes me feel good,” he said.
Ally Hrbachek owner of Ally’s Cake Creeations has been able to donate meals and clothes to the wellness centre from her own fundraising campaigns. (Steve Seto/650 CKOM)
Standingready said he was a carpenter for 30 years, but suffered from carpal tunnel syndrome. The past nine months have been tough since being released from a correctional facility, he said.
“There’s a lot of good people here. I recommend that, and tell some of my friends out there to come here and get some help,” Standingready added.
He said there should be more places like the wellness centre to provide direction to those in need.
Donations
STC can’t do it all by themselves, and Arcand said they have received a number of donations since moving into the new space.
One of the wellness centre’s major donors has been Ally’s Cake Creeations, which has helped keep food available and provide warm clothes.
Ally Hrbachek, a member of the Peepeekisis First Nation, runs the business by herself, and was able to provide 500 meals through her own fundraising campaign. She’ll soon be delivering around 40 packages of warm clothes to the centre.
Dozens of toys were donated for kids staying at the wellness centre. (Steve Seto/650 CKOM)
“I am a proud Indigenous woman. I am the daughter of a residential school survivor. I’m the granddaughter of an Indian hospital survivor, and it’s deeply important to me to bring up my people as much as I can, while I can,” Hrbachek said.
She said she grew up in a tough situation with a single parent, but now has the resources and platform to help give back.
“I just care about my relatives, and I want to see them safe and warm, not in danger, not freezing to death, not hungry,” she said.
Hrbachek said it was tough to see so many people struggling, and when STC opened the wellness centre it gave her an outlet to show her support.
She encouraged other businesses to get involved too. Anyone can make a difference, she said, pointing to the fact she was able to give out 500 meals after only a week of fundraising.
“If I can still do this while still being a stay-at-home mom, while still working 40-50 hours a week, you can do it too,” Hrbachek said.
Earlier this month STC issued a call for Christmas gifts for the 21 kids staying at the centre during the holidays. Arcand said the organization received an abundance of toys which will help make Christmas special for the young clients at the centre.
