Regina community fridge rebuild planned, but some neighbours not supportive

A Regina community fridge destroyed by a fire is being rebuilt, but some residents in the area aren't pleased with that decision.

Up until September, Regina's Cathedral neighbourhood was home to a community fridge for those in need of food. It was located under the spires of the Holy Rosary Cathedral church, in its east parking lot.

The fridge was first made available in 2021 and is run by a group of volunteers. It has offered more than 900 kilograms of food a year. 

The site was unlocked 24 hours a day and contained a fridge, pantry and freezer. This was kept stocked by volunteers with donations of food, fresh produce and sanitary supplies. The service was anonymous and anyone could access it, no questions asked.

In September, the fridge and the shed it was in were both damaged by a fire. The Regina Fire Department confirmed in the fall that the fire had been deliberately set.

"There was a moment of sorrow, but quite quickly the community came together and we had a plan to rebuild," said Devon Fairbairn, a volunteer who helps with the fridge and delivers 30 hampers of food a week to those in need.

"We saw some donations financially, we saw some construction companies step up and ask if they could rebuild."

Some people living in the area aren't sure rebuilding is a good idea.

"Before the fridge, it was relatively quiet," said Amanda Handican, who lives across the street.

"Since that fridge burned down, it has been so peaceful at night. You wouldn't even believe it, it's night and day."

Handican said there has been a huge uptick in noise and drug use in the area since the fridge was placed there in 2021. She wants it moved to a non-residential area. 

She said she'd be happy to donate food for the fridge in a different location, but that she can't support the service in her area. 

"There's a safety issue," said Handican. "I have neighbours who won't take their children outside on the front because of all the overdoses and the drugs."

Volunteers said they are aware of the drug use in the area, but argue that substance problems are already occurring in other neighbourhoods.

"The noise levels, the crime, the overdoses, these are happening in our community, they're happening in my backyard," said Fairbairn.

 "I assure that the fridge is not the reason for those things. In fact, it's the solution for those things."

Fairbairn said the volunteers don't get to pick where the fridge is located and expressed gratitude for the church hosting the service and being willing to continue doing so.

He said one of the volunteers recently did a survey in the neighbourhood to get feedback on the location. He said that out of 10 houses on the street, eight were in favour of the rebuild and two were not. 

A community meeting will be held Thursday evening at the Holy Rosary Cathedral to determine the next steps in the rebuild process, and allow volunteers and those in the neighbourhood to express their opinions on the future of the community fridge.