The Salvation Army will shutter its doors come December after over 85 years of service in Meadow Lake. (Submitted Photo/Al Hoeft)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

Community organizations

Salvation Army in Meadow Lake to close December 1

Nov 2, 2023 | 5:01 PM

After over 85 years of service, Meadow Lake will bid farewell to the Salvation Army following a decision to close the longstanding community institution.

“The work of the Salvation Army has kind of diminished in the last few years,” said Maj. Al Hoeft, divisional secretary for SA public relations of the December. 1 closure.

“We’ve faced some challenges. We’ve had to evaluate the longevity of our work in Meadow Lake and what that would look like and where could we go and how we could make sure that the community’s needs were going to continue to be met even after we departed.”

The decision to leave had been in the works for a couple of years, but Hoeft said they have been working with other local organizations to ensure there isn’t any “significant or huge gaps” in services.

According to Meadow Lake Mayor Merlin Seymour, the closure of the Salvation Army is a “Big blow.”

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“They do a lot in the community,” he said, noting there were often residents who benefited from the kettle campaign or the Christmas hampers.

Now that the cold weather is on its way, the city has implemented a cold weather strategy by offering some financial support for a new emergency shelter that has been built and will be operated by the Meadow Lake Home Plate Shelter Coalition Corp.

According to Bob Steeg, chairman for Home Plate, while the organization has the shelter built, it is unable to open due to operational costs not being available.

“We have a building, it’s been renovated, and the city has been kind enough to give us $10,000 a month for five months,’ he said, noting local businesses have also stepped up financially to support the shelter, but are still waiting for additional funding for operational costs.

“The community has stood on their head to support us.”

An email statement from Jeremy Harrison, SaskParty MLA for Meadow Lake, on provincial funding support read, “It is my top priority as MLA to advocate for the constituents of Meadow Lake. It is my understanding that the Home Plate Shelter proposal is under review, and the MLA office will continue to monitor the situation.”

BattlefordsNOW reached out Minister of Social Services Gene Makowski’s office and an emailed statement from the ministry read in part, “Through the investment in the recently announced Provincial Approach to Homelessness, 120 new permanent emergency shelter spaces will be opened in communities across the province,” it said.

“These spaces are being allocated based on community needs. We are in the process of reviewing funding requests and can confirm we have received a proposal from a service provider in the Meadow Lake area. More information will be available soon.”

Last year the Door of Hope, an organization that the Salvation Army is working with through the transition, set up an emergency shelter though due staffing and security issues, decided not to open again this year and thus Home Plate’s shelter was created.

“Basically, the same people that are the directors of the Door of Hope are the ones that are spearheading the Home Plate Coalition,” said Seymour.

The mayor added that homelessness is all around and the emergency shelter will be an asset.

“If it’s able to keep people off the streets when it’s cold out and have a place to warm up and have a cup of coffee or just have a place to have a warm sleep for the evening, very important.”

Steeg, meanwhile, explained that the RCMP have also been happy with the building – able to shelter 20 people at a time – and gives people a chance to get off the street and saves lives.

“These people are sleeping under tarps, and in the bush and just in dumpsters and tin sheds and vehicles and just wherever they can find a place to keep out of the weather somewhat and it’s a real education,” he said.

Saying goodbye to the community hasn’t been easy but Hoeft said there are operational realities they need to be aware of, but they will still be available to respond to crisis. With its long history comes in the area, also comes inevitable progress and change.

“As far as other programs that we’ve traditionally run, the numbers on those have been decreasing over the years – particularly we think of – initially when we moved into Meadow Lake 85 years ago – it was really to provide a congregational worship setting and provide support to the community,” he said.

Those numbers have since dwindled and now, come December, the torch will be passed. In the remaining month that is left, the Christian organization will continue to work with local service groups to see that there is a bridge for those who need the support.

While the Salvation Army doesn’t operate extreme weather shelters in the city, they do in larger centres like Saskatoon or Regina.

“As far as emergency clothing, those would be continuing to be available in places like Prince Albert and Lloydminster,” Hoeft said.

“When it comes time that we have to leave communities, we do so sadly of course, but very grateful for ongoing support that we receive throughout that time period from the community.”