Roger Parenteau of Sask Housing, was asked to answer questions regarding a homeless shelter in Prince Albert last month. (Susan McNeil/paNOW Staff)

By Susan McNeil

Shelter discussion

Council not behind motion to add another option to shelter locations

May 14, 2025 | 9:04 AM

The question of where to put a permanent shelter for Prince Albert’s homeless population once again came up at the city council table on Monday.

Coun. Bryce Laewetz asked other councillors to support his motion to add one more option to the potential choices. His option was in the 300 block of 17th Street East.

“The reason I’m requesting leave today is because this is an emergent topic,” he said. “We’re moving forward with this conversation and the longer that this waits, the further back it would push us.”

Right now, the city is negotiating with the Social Services ministry directly as previous efforts have not been successful in getting public support.

“The negotiations and the discussion on a location is purely between administration through city council and Sask Housing. The operator has not been and will not be included in shelter location choice,” Community Development Manager Craig Guidinger said.

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A new operator is in the works after the YWCA decided it would no longer be them following four years of frustration. While they have not officially announced it, the Prince Albert Grand Council has been posting advertisements for jobs for shelter workers for the last week.

Laewetz’s motion did not get the six votes in support he needed to have it added to Monday’s agenda. Multiple councillors said they want to stay focused on the locations they are already working on.

Guidinger confirmed his department and the province have been in active discussions. The province has said they will pay for a shelter, but it needs to be the community that chooses the location.

“As of right now, they are in support of our way forward,” he said.

Stepping Stones Shelter, located on the Exhibition Grounds, was opened in 2020 as a temporary location but the plan was always to find a permanent spot.

However, every suggested location has met with resistance from nearby neighbours.

Earlier this year, the city held four public meetings to get feedback from residents on what details are important when choosing a location, but no specific spot has been named yet as the actual choice.

Following the meetings and an online survey, a detailed report was given to council but after multiple questions and concerns were voiced, administration said they were spinning their wheels trying to find a solution and that council needed to be the one to come up with an option.

Coun. Stephen Ring cited that as one reason to not add more options to the list they already have.

“I think we should keep moving forward and let the process follow through,” he said. “I remember the city manager saying two months ago that we’re spinning our wheels. Well, we finally got us some dry pavement and you want to put us back on the muddy road.”

He said it doesn’t matter which location is chosen, there will be a new group of people with the exact same concerns.

“We debated it for a long time and I think good debate. I’m not totally against this location to be honest and if the other one falls through this can be Plan B, but I want to move forward.”

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

On BlueSky: @susanmcneil.bsky.social