Parkland Hall emergency overflow shelter (submitted PAGC)

By Glenn Hicks

shelter

Extra emergency space provided in Prince Albert amid dangerously cold weather

Feb 8, 2021 | 10:42 PM

The brutally cold and dangerous weather has prompted the Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) to urgently set up an overflow emergency shelter at their Parkland Hall site.

On Monday night, the hall at 1510 Ninth Ave. W. was being transformed in double time into a place of refuge for community members who are in need of getting out of the elements. The overflow facility will operate for the next two weeks as it’s needed when there is no space left at the Stepping Stones Shelter at the Prince Albert Exhibition Grounds, according to Geoff Despins, Director of Urban Services with the PAGC.

“Let’s keep everybody safe and everybody warm,” Despins told paNOW Monday night. “Everyone from the leadership to the staff and volunteers have been working very hard together to get this ready.”

Despins explained staff stepped up and volunteered to drive down to the Red Cross in Saskatoon Monday to collect 24 beds which will be their full capacity should it be necessary. As of Monday night, he said ten beds had been set up and they would have up to 15 tomorrow.

“We have blankets and pillows. When it’s cold like this we decided to open up Parkland Hall to keep people safe and comfortable, and there is already someone sleeping there tonight,” he said, adding there would be strict social distancing protocols in place.

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The extreme cold warning was issued by Environment Canada amid the plummeting temperatures well below -40 C the last few days. While there was a marginal warming on Monday afternoon, the mercury was still expected to hit -30 C overnight and feel like -43 C with the wind chill. Environment Canada warned these conditions can cause frostbite within minutes.

While anyone exposed to these conditions is at risk, those most impacted are young children, older adults, people with chronic illnesses, people working or exercising outdoors and those without proper shelter.

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glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow