Her late grandfather's time living on the streets of Prince Albert inspired Emmy Sayazie, a Carlton student, to collect and donate shoes to the Salvation Army. (submitted/Emmy Sayazie)

By Susan McNeil

Shoe drive

Grade 10 Carlton student collects shoes for homeless in Prince Albert

Feb 4, 2025 | 2:00 PM

A personal connection and a strong sense of caring led one Grade 10 student at Carlton High School to do a shoe drive for Prince Albert’s homeless population.

Emmy Sayazie, with the help of staff and some fellow students, spent a month collecting about 50 pairs of shoes, some new and some a bit used.

“We reached out to Major Ed over at the Salvation Army and asked if there were any needs,” she said. “He said that a big thing they needed were shoes.”

Their biggest demand is for shoes between sizes nine and 12.

They started at the beginning of January and by the end had collected around 60 pairs of shoes.

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Talking about what made it important to do this specific kindness brought Emmy close to tears.

“It is something that is personal to me. My late grandpa was unhoused before he passed away,” she said. “I feel like I need to help others that need it. That was once my grandpa in that position. That was someone in my family that was once in that position.”

Her grandfather was Moise Mackenzie. He passed away in Prince Albert at age 59.

Her mother taught her the importance of kindness as a child. They would go to a local store and buy the necessities her grandfather would need and sometimes add gift cards to local restaurants.

“We would go around P.A. trying to look for him and give him the stuff that we bought him,” she said. “Addiction is something that a lot of people struggle with.”

“My grandpa is the main reason that I wanted to do this. Because when he was here, he was the nicest person that I knew. Because of him, I don’t want to judge people that are in the same position.”

Giving to others did not start with her mother either. Emmy is a member of the Black Lake First Nation and her grandmother, Coreen Sayazie (current chief of that community) has also been a very big inspiration in her life. Her grandmother also donated shoes to the effort.

Her personal experience and teaching are leading Emmy to consider a psychology career that she can use to help others long term.

The shoes were taken to the Salvation Army on Thursday.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

On BlueSky: @susanmcneil.bsky.social