(file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Safety measures

City puts up six-foot fence outside Margo Fournier Centre

Aug 12, 2020 | 4:59 PM

A large red structure now decorates the front lawn of Prince Albert’s Margo Fournier Centre, restricting all front access into the facility.

The fence was erected by the city Wednesday morning. City Manager Jim Toye told paNOW the reason for the fence was to address loitering-related issues.

“The police department has worked with us and have moved people along, but a half hour later they come back,” he said. “There’s been upwards of 40 or 50 people there.”

“How is a fence going to solve our issues with homelessness and addictions?” _{– Estelle Hjertaas}

Toye said it’s not unusual for staff to go over to the property on any given morning, and find people sleeping by the doorway or under the trees. In addition to the staff who work at the building, the senior’s centre is also attached to it, and third party user groups rent the space from the city for various functions.

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“We want to make sure that the organizations who are using that facility believe there is safe access,” Toye said. “There’s not a lot of confrontational things that happen there but there is evidence of needles everyday, and there is evidence of urination on the building.”

When asked what might become of the loiterers once they are forced to move on, Toye said he did not know where they might go. He reiterated the safety of staff was of paramount concern to the city.

paNOW attempted to contact multiple agencies for comment including the Prince Albert YWCA, and John Howard Society, but no one was available. Local legal aid lawyer Estelle Hjertaas posted a comment about the fence on her Facebook page.

“How is a fence going to solve our issues with homelessness and addictions? It will just move them elsewhere,” she said.

Hjertaas criticized the city and the province for “insufficient” affordable housing, as well as a lack of sufficient supports for people experiencing homelessness, despite the great work both the YWCA and their Homeward Bound Program do.

“So the City of Prince Albert put up a fence,” she said.

Through an email, Ward Two Councillor Terra Lennox-Zepp informed paNOW she has requested this issue be on an upcoming agenda for City Council to discuss.

“Lawful use of public spaces is the point of public spaces. Unlawful use of public spaces can be dealt with through the City enforcing its bylaws,” she said.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell