City councillor says approvals still needed for proposed Sutherland shelter

There are still a few decisions in the hands of Saskatoon city councillors before a proposed 30-bed emergency shelter opens in the Sutherland neighbourhood, according to Coun. Darren Hill.

That includes three issues that may be discussed during a March city council meeting and public hearing.

“That location needs to come to council for three different things,” Hill said. “So there are three votes for which the public can hold city council accountable for this decision.”

The first is for council to approve a shelter lease below market value.

The second decision will be to approve the length of time the shelter can operate at that location, which could be up to 18 months.

The third vote will require a public hearing and will require a zoning change and removal of the Municipal Reserve designation in order for the shelter to occupy the space.

According to the city’s interactive zoning map, the land the former Sutherland Fire Hall/proposed shelter sits on — 421 Central Ave. — is labelled as M3. That means it’s classified as “General Institutional Service District.”

The definition of that land includes one-unit and multiple-unit dwellings, dwelling groups, offices and office buildings, places of worship, private schools, medical clinics, public parks and playgrounds, radio and TV stations, financial institutions, research labs, private clubs, banquet halls, and special care homes.

Comments made by Coun. David Kirton in October of 2022 indicated the Fairhaven emergency wellness centre was zoned as M2, or “Community Institutional Service District,” allowing for care homes for those who don’t have shelter.

According to the city, the Municipal Reserve is an additional designation on the land occupied by the former Sutherland fire hall, on top of the zoning district, and that’s why council needs to approve a zoning change.

“The public needs to be aware of the conversations happening. They need to be engaged,” said Hill.

Online petition and Saskatoon Minor Hockey

An online petition by Rosewood resident Clint Knudsen calling for an alternate location for the shelter had about 1,600 “signatures” gathered as of Wednesday morning.

Knudsen said his children attend Bishop Filevich Bilingual School, and children’s safety should come before opening the shelter in that location. He also attended a public meeting with Hill at the school on Sunday.

“I hope to get the word out to as many people as we can and show that there’s support for looking after the rights of the children, because it doesn’t make sense, ” Knudsen said.

“I don’t see how that elected officials putting the shelter at the fire hall is going to benefit the children,” he added. “Now they’re talking of safety measures that need to be put in place, but why?”

He said right now, the playgrounds and area around the ACT Arena located behind the proposed shelter are safe.

The Saskatoon Minor Hockey Association agreed, sending out a statement to concerned parents.

“The Board of Directors of Saskatoon Minor Hockey shares your concerns regarding the proposed homeless shelter to be located adjacent to ACT Arena, inside the old Firehall #5 building (421 Central Avenue),” the statement said.

“We will be contacting Saskatoon City Council and local MLA’s to express our concerns with the location and encourage you to do the same.”

The Mustard Seed

Two attempts have been made to contact The Mustard Seed’s incoming CEO, James Gardiner, but both interview requests were denied.

In a brief statement, The Mustard Seed’s Deon Watson said the organization has nothing more to add than what the City of Saskatoon released late last week about the cancellation of meetings over the shelter location.

It’s not clear at this point whether, as Gardiner said in January, services at the planned facility will initially only provide housing and food.

“Regarding details around the proposed emergency shelter in Saskatoon, we are continuing to work with the City and Province on operational planning,” wrote Watson.

Knudsen said he’s aware of the urgency for additional homeless shelters, but also wondered why other spaces closer to services aren’t being used.

“There’s other locations that are better for the children, and that’s what needs to happen,” he said.