Saskatoon Tribal Council wellness centre undergoing renovations

The Saskatoon Tribal Council's emergency wellness centre is set to undergo a major renovation. CTV's Stacey Hein reports.

The Saskatoon Tribal Council’s (STC) emergency wellness centre in Fairhaven is undergoing major renovations.

Tribal Chief Mark Arcand said the centre is adding 13 new washroom stalls and 10 accessible showers.

“We only had two showers the last three to four years, which didn’t make sense for 106 people,” Arcand told reporters Tuesday.

He said the centre will also expand laundry services and add a commercial kitchen. All three meals are currently prepared off-site, and the new setup will give people staying there a chance to work in the kitchen.

“When we look at all of these renovations, we think it’s a positive outcome,” he said. “To help all the relatives in a good situation.”

STC has received $1.4 million from the federal government for the project, Arcand said, noting the province owns the building while the council manages services.

In a statement, the Ministry of Social Services said it is providing $975,000 through a third-party agreement with Ottawa.

In September 2024, the ministry said it was looking to reduce the capacity at the Fairhaven shelter as it looks to move toward “a model of smaller shelters going forward.”

“Aligned with that principle, the Ministry of Social Services plans to decrease spaces at the Saskatoon Tribal Council wellness centre in the future.”

Ward 3 Coun. Robert Pearce said that while the renovations are needed, the province now appears to be backing away from that plan.

“We’ve been promised a bed reduction when a new permanent shelter was built, and one is going to be built starting this summer. And so, the size and scope of the tender appears to make it look like…a promise isn’t going to be kept,” he said in an interview with CTV News.

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Pearce said a smaller shelter is needed, saying the more people who gather in one area, the more opportunity there is for crime targeting vulnerable people.

The Ministry of Social Services said it is working with community partners to ensure there are enough spaces and will maintain 106 beds at the centre.

“Now is not the time to reduce emergency shelter beds in the community,” the statement said.

Arcand said any discussion about reducing beds should come later, once more shelters are open.

“We’re the highest homeless rate in our province, and I think we need to increase beds,” Arcand said. “Lowering them should not be a discussion or an option.”

He expects renovations to be completed by the end of March next year.