Warm Up locations available; more needed

Dec 11, 2017 | 6:00 PM

While the last few days and the week ahead appear to be unseasonably warm, residents may still need a spot to warm up.

Fortunately several organizations in Prince Albert offer this service. A poster made by the River Bank Development Corporation and distributed to media through Parkland Ambulance, advertised four locations in the city billed “warm up locations.”

Brian Howell, from the Development Corporation, said he got the idea to advertise the warm up locations from a group in Saskatoon. Staff at the Co-operative Health Center noticed the posters and approached him.

“If we can identify some places where [people] can warm up, it helps to avoid people becoming ill, or perhaps even dying,” Howell said.

He noted there are cold-weather services available through the Prince Albert Mobile Crisis Unit and cited Our House’s emergency shelter, but he said he would like to see more services available to people in cold weather. The Prince Albert Indian Metis Friendship Centre, The Gate by Access Place, the Bernice Sayese Center and the Salvation Army’s Breakfast Program are all designated as warm up locations.

Dawn Robins, the executive director of the Bernice Sayese Center, said the services are available for people beyond the less fortunate. Robins said she felt there should be a warm up location in every section of the city.

“We have a lot of elderly and it takes them quite a while to get from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’ and it’s nice to have locations where they can feel good about stopping in for a tea, or coffee, or a rest,” Robins said.

Due to its location between key bus stops, the Bernice Sayese Center features bus schedules along with warm beverages.

Linnea Lanoie from The Gate, said she wished more places offered warm-up services.

The Gate is operated through the Health Board, which means its hours of operation are Monday to Friday, between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. with an hour lunch break. Lanoie said she would like to see services offered on weekends and in the evenings as well. In order to do so, on site security and volunteers would be needed.

“Right now I can’t see it happening, but if we had the means, yeah, we would do it,” Lanoie said.

The Gate has operated in a similar fashion for the last two and a half years according to Lanoie, and it’s not just open in the winter months either. She said while their air conditioner may not be the best, folks who need to cool off in the summer or just need a place to rest their feet are welcome to drop in.

The Gate has a phone, which people can use to place local calls and a computer which offers internet access for people who may not be able to get online.

Captain Laura Van Schaick of the Salvation Army said the Breakfast Program offers people a chance to warm up while enjoying a quality meal. On Mondays and Wednesdays, the program serves a cold breakfast and on Fridays a hot meal is offered.

“It’s a place where people can definitely come in out of the cold [and] find community, and [it’s] just a safe place to connect with others,” Van Schaick said.

She said she’s encouraged to see organizations stepping up to offer services, but she’d like more because not every organization can fill the demand.

 

Bryan.Eneas@jpbg.ca

On twitter: @BryanEneas