The proposed location of the care home beside Kinsmen Park is shown in red. (Council Agenda Package/City of P.A.)

By Alison Sandstrom

New youth program

Council wants operator and neighbours to talk before care home approval

Feb 24, 2021 | 5:47 PM

A proposed care home in the Kinsmen Park area is getting some push back from prospective neighbours, prompting city council to put a vote on its development permit on hold.

The residence would be operated by the John Howard Society and house five young men at-risk of contact with the criminal justice system, aged 18-21.

While councillors were generally supportive of the youth home, some felt there hadn’t been enough consultation or information shared with area residents. Several residents called or wrote letters to council voicing concerns the addition of the home in their neighbourhood would attract criminal activity and decrease property values.

“Change is a process not an event… the neighbours need more time to understand what’s happening in this home,” Coun. Dennis Ogrodnick told council, adding he believed once people had more information on the care home, they would support it.

Council decided to push the vote on the project from Monday night’s meeting to March 15. In the meantime, city staff will set up an online meeting between the John Howard Society and residents.

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Program for at-risk youth

John Howard Society of Saskatchewan CEO Shawn Fraser attended Monday night’s meeting and took questions from councillors about the home. One to two staff will provide supervision at the residence at all times.

The youth living there would be part of a larger program the John Howard Society is launching in Prince Albert. The program will provide land-based education, cultural supports, work place training and education with a specific focus on time spent in nature. The ultimate goal is to prevent at-risk young people from getting involved in gangs or having contact with the criminal justice system.

Fraser explained often when people have contact with the law its because they’ve lost access to either social or family supports.

“We find that there’s this hole when youth are in social services, when they’re wards of the state, often times when they turn 18 that’s when trouble hits,” he said.

Participation in the program will be voluntary, he added.

“The common thread is they have to be people who want to better themselves,” he explained.

Coun. Ted Zurakowski, who suggested the idea of a virtual meeting, thanked Fraser for being willing to talk with residents.

“You’ve said a lot of good things I’ve learned through this conversation today,” he said. “I’ll share those facts with the neighbours, but it’s important it comes from you.”

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom