Social issues, perception of safety among keys to improving Saskatoon's downtown, panel says

Crime, poverty and empty storefronts in Saskatoon's downtown were some of the issues that leaders of the Saskatoon Police Service, Saskatoon Tribal Council, and Downtown YXE discussed during a Wednesday afternoon panel.

The event, titled A Downtown at the Tipping Point, focused on the state of the city's downtown and how to improve it.

"I don't know that it's necessarily at a tipping point for the downtown community," police Chief Troy Cooper said at the event, hosted by the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce.

"I think our social issues, the social service providers in our community are at a tipping point…. Until we find some solutions to that, our downtown is where it manifests."

Downtown YXE executive director Brent Penner said he was also concerned about the commercial vacancy rates in downtown Saskatoon. 

The office vacancy rate downtown sits at 22 or 23 per cent right now, said Penner.

"That's certainly on the high side," he said.

"Probably one of the single biggest issues downtown … is just with people not at full office capacity."

Masking and vaccine policies have also shown that staff can return to their offices, Penner said.

While it's great that big companies like the tech company Vendasta decided to stay in Saskatoon, the retail industry overall is facing challenges, he said, pointing to Birks jewelry store as an example.

The business has operated downtown since the 1920s but will close its storefront by the end of December.

Safety in Saskatoon

Perception of safety downtown is another important factor, according to Penner.

But the police chief said crime is actually down in the city, particularly in the downtown core.

But Penner said people make their decisions about downtown Saskatoon based on what they perceive to be the case, even if the reality might be different. 

"We have a lot of failed systems," he said.

"The first thing we have to do is … look at what and how we're doing things. In some cases, look at where those services are being delivered."

Most of the social problems downtown, though, fall within areas that are the responsibility of the province, Penner said. 

"The province of Saskatchewan needs to listen."

Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Mark Arcand said it's important for the whole community to work together to help people who are in need.

Homelessness can happen to anybody, he said, and the pandemic has made that even worse.

"I think Saskatoon is at a tipping point downtown," he said.

"I think we're dealing with things from COVID, from the pandemic, from residential schools, from everything that's just piling up in our city and it's not good for our downtown."

Emergency shelter shouldn't be downtown: Arcand

Another emergency shelter might soon move into an empty building in downtown Saskatoon in an attempt to deal with growing numbers of homeless people in the city.

On Thursday, city council will discuss whether a proposed 50-bed temporary emergency wellness centre can open its doors in the former police building on First  Avenue N.

Cooper estimates there are roughly 100 people in the city who could benefit from an emergency shelter.

"Some of those people just need temporary accommodation," he said. "Some of them need a lot more resources to find appropriate housing."

The temporary emergency wellness centre is spearheaded by the Saskatoon Tribal Council and is intended to offer shelter, mental health and addictions services.

Arcand, though, said he did not want the centre to end up downtown, where he is concerned drugs may be more accessible to people using the shelter.

"I went to every part of the city," he said.

He raised the concern that clients might leave the downtown facility to use drugs and then come back.

"That's not helping people," he said.

At the centre itself, alcohol or drugs won't be allowed, Arcand said.

He said he'd be happy to move the emergency wellness centre elsewhere if there is an option out there.

"I'm not here to disrupt people's lives, I'm not here to hurt your business," he told the audience.

The Saskatoon Tribal Council has applied for a federal grant from the government of $1.4 million, but hasn't heard back yet, according to Arcand.

While the council will use internal funding to start the temporary project, it continues to speak with organizations and different levels of government for support, he said.

With the funding currently available, the centre could stay open for about six weeks, said Arcand.

If the centre gets final approval by the city, it could open as early as Friday afternoon to anyone without a home during the cold winter months, he said.