Saskatoon activates expanded winter emergency plan as deep freeze looms

WATCH: With the first deep freeze of the season fast approaching, the city has enacted its cold weather strategy for the first time.

With the first deep freeze of the season fast approaching, the city’s extended version of the winter emergency response plan has been triggered for the first time while community groups and volunteers brace for impact.

Protecting the city’s most vulnerable is on the minds of many as the wind chill sets in.

Bridge City Warmth is one of these groups.

“For our street patrols, we basically load up two or three vehicles. We drive down 20th and we identify those who are in need,” Melissa Zimmer, the Bridge City Warmth president said.

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That’s just one of the services the group provides — all are focused on helping those who are homeless.

Meanwhile, for the first time this year, the city is putting its multi-day cold weather response into action.

“We’ve activated the winter emergency response plan to level two, from today, the ninth until the 15th,” Pamela Goulden–McLeod, director of emergency management with the City of Saskatoon, told CTV News.

The need is growing, with the number of people who are unhoused at extremely high levels already this winter.

“Having some conversations with some of the staff there, they’re seeing the numbers increase from last year. Gord Taylor at St. Mary’s has shared that they’ve seen numbers that were occurring now that were at their highest points last year,” she said.

Those locations being opened for the response plan can be found on the city’s website.

“It is so much more dangerous out there for people, so we are so grateful for partners like the provincial government, Saskatoon Tribal Council, St. Mary’s Church, Salvation Army, that are running these warming locations,” she said.

Still, she says as winter settles in, helping the most vulnerable is key.

“My hope is that we continue to prioritize this work and that we continue to work together.”

For community members like Zimmer, the work doesn’t end with a warm room. Relying on each other, she says, is what gets people through the coldest nights.

“Everybody out there has a story. They’re all people. We’re all people, and we just need to be kind and compassionate,” she said.

Their group accepts donations and information can be found on the Bridge City Warmth social media pages.