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(File Photo/paNOW Staff)
PLACES TO WARM UP

Several warmup spots opening in P.A. as temperatures plummet

Jan 10, 2024 | 2:00 PM

Extreme cold has already made its way into Prince Albert, and it’s expected to stay for the next week at least.

While many businesses and households will be OK with their heated buildings, the same can’t be said for those in P.A.’s homeless community.

Thankfully, according to Riverbank Development Corporation, some places in the city are available to help those needing a warm up space.

This includes the Salvation Army, the Indian Métis Friendship Centre, and the Stepping Stones shelter.

(River Bank Development Corporation)

The Salvation Army will be open to provide emergency meals from 11 a.m. to noon at their location on Central Avenue and 9th Street.

The hall inside St. Alban’s Cathedral hosts a Reach Out every other Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The Food Bank is open as a warmup location from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday to Friday as is the Indian Métis Friendship Centre from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Bernice Sayese Centre will be open as a warmup location as well from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday and the Stepping Stones Shelter runs 24/7 at the Exhibition Centre.

This follows a list released by the City of North Battlefords earlier this week that showed many areas in the city being used as a warm up space.

The city is partnering with different agencies including the Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs (BATC) and the Indian Métis Friendship Centre.

According to Brian Howell, executive director of Riverbank Development, there are other plans in the works for the organizations to help those escape the cold.

“We’re working on a meal program and warm up place that would be open a couple hours a day and we’re also working on having a van that would be operating, just in case there’s people that are on the street to try and find them and let them warm up and get them to care.”

Howell added they are in the process of applying for provincial and federal funding to help with these initiatives. He added some homeless people don’t like going to the shelter or sometimes there’s not enough room.

As for the timeline, Howell is hopeful they can get these up and running as soon as possible.

“We would expect this to be happening fairly quickly with the van probably within a week,” he said.

panews@pattisonmedia.com

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