How Cody Barnett, CEO of the Boreal Health Care Foundation, spent last night at 5 °C. (Cody Barnett/Facebook)

By Susan McNeil

Scantum Care Challenge

Eye-opening moments for volunteers spending 36 hours on Prince Albert streets

Sep 26, 2025 | 6:00 PM

From walking several kilometres just to earn $8.45 by selling bottles to sleeping in parks and finding out how difficult it is to get even basic government assistance with no address, 10 local volunteers experienced some eye-opening moments living on the streets of Prince Albert.

In their everyday lives, the volunteers are doctors, gym owners, realtors and writers, but they took on a 36-hour challenge to help raise awareness and understanding of the issues facing people living with homelessness and chronic illness in the city.

The experience is also a fundraiser for Sanctum Care Group which recently expanded services in Prince Albert. The organization provides care to individuals living with or at risk of HIV/AIDS, homelessness, and complex health challenges.

The participants began the experience at 6 a.m. on Thursday and concluded at 6 p.m. on Friday. During their time on the streets, each individual was given tasks to undertake that reflected real scenarios and barriers that the most vulnerable population faces each day. Participants updated their experience throughout the challenge on their social media.

“It’s getting tougher with the rain, it’s definitely getting tougher,” said Danielle Fehr, of 4 Horsemen Fitness.

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Some participants simulating the need for a doctor’s visit walked to a local clinic, only to find out it wasn’t open. They ended up having to travel a lengthy distance to find one that was.

Local nurse Carolyn Brost Strom was part of the challenge. She estimated that she hit about 25,000 steps on Thursday, which included walking from downtown, across the bridge and into the industrial area on the north side of the city to sell bottles and cans found in dumpsters and bins.

Her challenge partner was Cody Demerais, a local business owner and motivational speaker. He endured the experience as someone who had an arm injury and also needed a walker to move around.

“That was a very long trek for $8.45, but that will help us be able to purchase a meal today,” said Strom.

Strom slept in the women’s shelter overnight while Demerais spent the night at the Detox Centre. Just spending a day and a half on the streets helped change his perspective on the struggles of many.

“Something as simple as walking into Gabriel Dumont Institute downtown, asking for some water, and being greeted not only with water but also with a handful of cherry tomatoes—it meant so much in that moment,” said Demerais.

The amount of food a user can take from the food bank twice per month. (Carolyn Brost Strom/Facebook)

“This experience is already showing me the harsh realities people face, but also the humanity that shines through when others extend even the smallest kindness.”

The challenge showed the barriers are high for the homeless, but also for those trying to find affordable housing.

Fehr and her partner looked at a rundown house in the West Flat with graffiti on the inside walls, dirty floors and a moldy mattress that was renting for $695 a month, plus utilities.

They saw what life is like for someone on support payments who was left with $400 a month for food, cell phone bills and any personal care items they might need.

Cody Barnett, CEO of the Boreal Healthcare Foundation, was partnered with Britany Shymanski, an registered nurse.

Barnett was one of four volunteers who slept outside Thursday night, with temperatures dropping down to 5 °C. Shymanksi was lucky enough to have a bed, but he was not.

“We’ve got a safe place outside, but we are outside. Apart from using bathrooms at Walmart, we’re also cardboard hunting to make some beds,” Barnett posted in a video.

Their challenge had them navigating homelessness and prenatal care as an HIV positive couple. Three older children in their scenario had already been apprehended by Child and Family Services. They posted from Access Place after visiting a public health nurse at the Sexual Health Clinic, where they learned a lot about the services available. With care, HIV levels can be dropped to very low levels and Hepatitis C is now curable, so getting care is crucial.

“We had a lovely sit down with Shelley, one of the workers, and felt nothing but her passion and her knowledge and her expertise. She was phenomenal to listen to,” said Shymanski.

In addition to their participation, each volunteer commited to raising $20,000 in support of Sanctum Care Group’s programs. Funds raised in Prince Albert will also support the Prenatal Outreach Resource Team, which provides early interventions for at-risk mothers to improve health outcomes and prevent infant apprehensions at birth. The orgnaization also hopes to expand a care home that will support pregnant women at risk.

As of late afternoon Friday, the challenge had raised more than $109,000. The campaign lasts until Oct. 31, leaving plenty of time for people who want to donate.

A similar challenge will run in Saskatoon next weekend.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

On BlueSky@susanmcneil.bsky.social