Prince Albert warming centre opens to help residents during extreme cold

Operated by the Salvation Army, the centre provides amenities for 35 guests during freezing winter temperatures. Jasmine Pelletier has more.

The Salvation Army has opened a 24-hour warming centre in downtown Prince Albert to help people seeking shelter during extreme winter cold.

Known as The Meeting Place, the centre opened earlier this month and operates day and night. Salvation Army Major Ed Dean said the name was chosen to sound more welcoming than a traditional warming centre.

“We came up with that name last year because we felt it was a little friendlier, a little softer than, ‘let’s go to the warming centre,’” Dean said.

The Meeting Place has a maximum capacity of 35 people and offers seating, food, water and access to washrooms. It provides overnight space for those with nowhere else to go during freezing temperatures.

More than 20 people visited the centre on its opening day, with attendance increasing as word spread.

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“They need services. They need housing,” Dean said. “For some of them, that housing literally is here tonight. But if it keeps them alive for another day, they’re somebody’s family.”

The warming centre previously operated out of the Salvation Army building, but this year the organization has taken on full responsibility for running the facility.

While staffing efforts continue, employees from the Prince Albert Métis Women’s Association (PAMWA) stepped in to help ensure the centre could open on Dec. 15.

“You have the location, the building, and you’re just short on staffing,” said PAMWA executive director Noreen McBride.

“We have some staffing. If we could work together, we would partner and be able to open that location as soon as possible to reach the most vulnerable in that cold weather.”

McBride said PAMWA will continue assisting through the winter and help connect visitors with additional supports, while Salvation Army staff take over overnight shifts.

“Nobody wants to be left behind, especially in the cold,” she said. “Ultimately, we’d love to see everybody housed.”

The Salvation Army says The Meeting Place will remain open until April.