‘Significant change’ for community after Prairie Harm closure: Saskatoon mayor

Saskatoon’s mayor said the city will see a change now that Prairie Harm Reduction has closed its doors.

In an emailed statement on Fri, April 10 – one day after the organization’s official closure – Mayor Cynthia Block said the development “marks significant change for our community.

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“The loss of its programs and supports will have impacts that extend beyond any single group, and the absence of services it provided may be felt more deeply over time than is immediately apparent,” the mayor stated.

Block said she and the community recognize that residents, partners and systems across the city will be affected by the closure, expressing support for residents navigating the change in available services.

“We remain focused on supporting people through this period of change,” Block said.

The mayor also thanked service providers and staff working on Saskatoon’s frontlines and streets “for supporting the community through this time of change.”

Prairie Harm Reduction, an organization that offered Saskatoon’s only supervised drug consumption site and other social services, announced its closure on Thurs, April 9 after suddenly firing its executive director early last month and issuing an urgent call for help over financial difficulties.

Following that announcement, the organization saw provincial funding in the form of two contracts cut and its operations suspended by Health Canada.