Judge Gerald Morin cuts the ribbon at the hostel that bears his late father's name (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Health care

Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation opens new hostel

Dec 20, 2019 | 8:00 AM

Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation (PBCN) celebrated the grand opening of a new ten-room boarding house on Thursday.

The Senator John Morin Memorial Building Hostel will host PBCN members from the North while they’re in Prince Albert for medical appointments. Located on Chief Joseph Custer Reserve #201, the building is within view of the Victoria hospital.

Manager Dwight McCallum explained the hostel will generate revenue for PBCN for years to come, and is more comfortable for guests than staying at a hotel, the most common alternative.

“So they don’t feel kind of left out, or sometimes a little culture shocked coming down to the city,” he told paNOW.

The facility has been open for over a week.

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“Most of the people we’ve had staying here over the past ten days feel very comfortable and at ease,” McCallum said.

All of the rooms have key card access (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

Each of the hostel’s ten rooms is equipped with two queen beds, a TV and a private bathroom. Three are larger “family-sized” wheelchair accessible rooms.

Staff prepare three meals per day for guests, and a shuttle service is provided to medical appointments around the city.

Right now, the hostel is open to PBCN members, but McCallum said in the future they may start accepting guests from other northern communities, depending on occupancy

The facility was built by Taylor Built Homes, an Indigenous owned construction company. Former Urban Councillor Warren McCallum and Kiskaciwan Developments – a PBCN company – negotiated the construction and they broke ground in October of 2017.

The grand opening on Thursday included remarks from dignitaries from PBCN and Prince Albert Grand Council.

Judge Gerald Morin (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW staff)

Former provincial court judge, Gerald Morin also addressed the crowd that packed the foyer.

The hostel bears the name of his late father, Senator John Morin.

Morin spoke of the many people who stayed in his father and mother’s house over the years, and how the couple cared for and guided so many.

“When I see something like this, and people coming in with the purpose of health and seeing his name up there, I know it comes from a caring spirit,” he said. ” He has displayed that. He has taught us to be respectful. He has taught us to be helpful. And I think having this place named after him it’s a great honour.”

The attractive entrance to the new hostel.(Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom