Delton Sylvain, executive director of Door of Hope, stands outside the organization’s current building on 2nd Avenue East in Meadow Lake. The outreach centre recently received city council approval to relocate to a new site, clearing a key planning hurdle as it looks to replace the aging facility. (Kenneth Cheung/meadowlakeNOW)

By Kenneth Cheung

DOOR OF HOPE

After years in an aging building, an outreach centre in Meadow Lake gets a chance to move forward

Jan 17, 2026 | 4:54 PM

For years, the work at Door of Hope in Meadow Lake has carried on inside a building that was never meant to handle the scale of need it now serves.

In winter, the cold seeps in. Downstairs, food has frozen. Plumbing problems resurface again and again. Space is tight, and repairs are costly. Still, people keep coming.

“When we have very cold weather, you can feel the cold here,” said Delton Sylvain, executive director of Door of Hope.

“Some items are frozen and we can’t preserve the food in the same quality.”

That reality is what’s driving plans for a new Door of Hope and food bank facility – plans that took a major step forward this month when Meadow Lake city council approved a discretionary use application allowing the organization to relocate to a vacant lot on 3rd Street East.

Riderville

Ask Not for Whom the Ed Hervey Tampering Window Opens!

Feb 02, 2026

Seniors Scene

New Year - New Habits

Feb 02, 2026

Simple Strategies You Can Use To Look and Feel Better Right Now

Jan 23, 2026

The approval doesn’t mean construction will begin right away. But for Sylvain, it means there is a chance to better serve the people.

“This food bank and the soup kitchen, at the same time, is the only food bank and soup kitchen, really, in Meadow Lake,” he said. “It serves Green Lake, Rapid View, Dorintosh, the RMs, Flying Dust First Nation [and beyond].”

The current building on 2nd Avenue East has simply outgrown its purpose. According to a city planning report, it is no longer viable for long-term service. The food bank has exceeded its capacity, kitchen facilities are inadequate, and extensive upgrades would be required just to meet safety and regulatory standards. Administration concluded that building new would be more economical than retrofitting the existing structure.

The demand is visible every day.

“For breakfast, we have around 70 people coming in,” Sylvain said. “And for lunch, 100, 115 people. … On a daily basis, I would say around 180 people.”

Delton Sylvain, executive director of Door of Hope, stands outside the organization’s current building on 2nd Avenue East in Meadow Lake. (Kenneth Cheung/meadowlakeNOW)

But Door of Hope’s role extends far beyond meals.

The organization also provides hygiene products, diapers and baby supplies, winter clothing, pet food, and referrals to detox and rehabilitation services. Some clients use Door of Hope as their mailing address because they don’t have stable housing. Others come simply because it’s a safe place to be.

“The most vulnerable people in our communities around this area, they come here because this is a safe, inclusive place for anyone,” Sylvain said. “This is what we want — to foster a family, community.”

The proposed new building would allow that work to expand in ways that aren’t possible now. Plans include space for partner organizations, private meeting rooms, workshops, health and outreach services, and improved kitchen and storage facilities. Sylvain said it would allow outside agencies – from health workers to Elders – to meet people where they already are.

Council’s decision followed a public hearing process that included advertising, mailed notices and written submissions. Forty-nine pieces of correspondence were received, some raising concerns about location, traffic and compatibility with nearby properties. Administration ultimately recommended approval, noting the proposal aligns with the city’s Official Community Plan.

What the approval does not include is funding.

Sylvain said Door of Hope does not yet have the money to build and will rely on donations, fundraising campaigns and grants to move the project forward. He is encouraging organizations and individuals interested in donating to reach out directly.

He estimated the project could cost “a couple million dollars,” though no final figure has been set. His hope is to see the building completed by mid-2027.

“That’s my ambition,” he said.

For now, council’s decision gives Door of Hope something it hasn’t had before – certainty about where it can grow.

“You can be operating,” Sylvain said, “but at the same time you’re in the back of your head, you know the infrastructure is not the proper one.”

Anyone interested in contributing financially, or aware of organizations or individuals interested in doing so, is encouraged to contact Sylvain at 306-234-2300 or Delton@mlom.ca.

—

Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com