Exhibition Association Board member Greg Dionne says effective May 1, to help protect people coming to the various events on the exhibition grounds, these park hours will be strictly enforced. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Civic unrest

‘We have suffered with the shelter being there’: Exhibition board responds to Stepping Stones departure

Apr 1, 2025 | 5:11 PM

A former president of the Prince Albert Exhibition Association Board believes a decision by the Prince Albert YWCA to shut down shelter operations has more to do with political strategy than it does health and safety concerns.

Greg Dionne, who was also mayor when the Stepping Stones homeless shelter first took over the space under the grandstand in November of 2020, is responding to Monday’s announcement concerning an April 30 closing date. The press release cited concerns around overcrowding, air flow and ventilation.

“I believe they are closing the shelter just strictly to put pressure on city council to find a permanent solution,” Dionne said.

While YWCA Prince Albert holds the contract with the provincial government as the service provider, it is in fact the City of Prince Albert who acts as the landlord and has the permit to operate. The onus is also then on the city to find a new temporary location.

On Monday, when paNOW spoke with YWCA CEO Donna Brooks, she insisted the decision to close was not politically motivated and while reiterating safety concerns, noted multiple staff members had gotten sick.

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Dionne explained in July 2024, the mold issue was brought to the attention of the board, which then worked together with the YWCA to remediate along with asbestos removal. He added up until notice was served last month, there were no other issues raised.

“The ventilation was an issue because they closed some of the vents and the problem you have in that small space is there’s 50 showers a day that go on in the washroom so you’re gonna have high moisture so it’s important to get the vents going,” he said.

Between the clean up and the closure notice being served, Dionne confirmed another face-to-face meeting between the board and the shelter staff. The meeting was to address concerns related to safety, garbage, and fires.

“At no time during that meeting did they bring the issue of mold up again and we never heard anything until the last two weeks and they served notice that they are going,” said Dionne. He noted his own disappointment that Monday’s notice was the first time the YWCA thanked the exhibition for use of the space.

“I praise the Exhibition for doing their corporate duty and stepping up and trying to help the city with the issue and we have suffered with the shelter being there,” he said.

Going forward, Dionne confirmed that starting May 1, an 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. park curfew will once again be enforced. He said over the past few years there’s been concerns raised related to losing business from fewer people attending events.

“We want the people to know when they come to an event at the exhibition, we’re gonna put 100 per cent effort into making sure you are safe.”

Dionne also noted they’ve extended an invitation to city council to meet, and at that meeting the board will share their experiences and concerns.

Response from YWCA

When asked about the repair work that was done, the CEO of the Prince Albert YWCA said their organization was provided with a $70,000 grant from Sask. Housing to clean up the mold.

Donna Brooks added though it was also known at the time that the work done was only going to be a temporary fix. The roof still required expensive repairs and continued to leak resulting in more mold build up.

Brooks also confirmed as a result of an air quality testing report from Got Mold, they were instructed by the Sask Housing Corp. to close the vents, to prevent the moldy air from getting down to the main floor where the shelter is located.

With respect to Dionne’s comment on no follow up complaints, Brooks said they had no contact with the board, and dealt only with the general manager and maintenance staff.

“If they don’t know about it, it’s not on us,” she said.

With respect to the actual face-to-face meeting that occurred with the board, Brooks said it was not about the building, but rather the safety concerns and some online comments made by a board member about the shelter.

She explained as a result of those talks, the YWCA agreed to do a better job communicating, increased security and even purchased a golf cart which they used to drive around and pick up garbage.

Stepping Stones is a 45-bed, enhanced, low-barrier, 24/7 homeless shelter.

If the city is unable to provide a new temporary location by April 30, the YWCA has said it will continue to provide services to the homeless population through an outreach/drop-in program. This will also involve the YWCA’s various partners in the city.

Talks regarding a permanent homeless shelter in Prince Albert have been ongoing for years and included four public meetings. At last week’s Executive Committee meeting, council voted six to three in favour of building in the vicinity of the current temporary shelter at the Exhibition Grounds.

With a better idea of where council wants the shelter, Director of Community Development Craig Guidinger indicated work on preparing a development application would start right away.

Dionne said there has been no communication with the board.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Blue Sky: @nigelmaxwell.bsky.social