Saskatoon Tribal Council chief pushes back against criticism of wellness centre in Fairhaven neighbourhood

Saskatoon Tribal Council Tribal Chief Mark Arcand says he's frustrated with criticism that has surfaced since the opening of the emergency wellness centre (EWC) in the city's Fairhaven neighbourhood.

The facility, located in southwest Saskatoon, has 106 emergency beds for people experiencing homelessness. 

The EWC relocated to the neighbourhood two months ago from a temporary downtown location. Since then, some residents have voiced concerns about crime going up in Fairhaven.

Arcand said at a news conference Tuesday that claims about increasing crime are simply not true.

"I need them to stop that because it's causing hardship, and it's a divide and conquer tactic that I do not support," Arcand said, adding, "It's not all Fairhaven residents, it's only a select few. But they're adding fuel to the fire … spreading gossip, not truths, and I'm tired of that."

Arcand referenced police statistics showing crime in the Fairhaven area has dropped or remained steady since the centre opened.

Police statistics show there were 174 social disorder calls — incidents like intoxication or suspicious persons — in the 60 days before the centre opened. From Nov. 16, 2022, to Jan. 14, 2023 — the two months after the shelter opened — there were 167 social disorder calls.

Meanwhile, there were 16 reports of violent crime in the area from Sept. 16 to Nov. 15, and only 10 from Nov. 16 to Jan. 14.

Saskatoon Police Service Chief Troy Cooper said police are assessing how community needs change around the wellness centre as the year goes on.

Arcand said if someone sees a person in distress or committing a crime, they should be calling the proper authorities.

In a recent Canadian Press story, the pastor of the Fairmont Baptist Church, which is in the neighbourhood, said there has been an increase in mischief and vandalism since the centre opened.

Pastor Robert Pearce said people had recently relieved themselves against the church building and under its wheelchair ramp. He said on one occasion a man defaced a sign after people inside the church locked the door during a youth event.

Arcand said this pastor has to change his thinking, and should be opening his doors instead of locking them.

"One of the commandments … is to love our neighbours, right? Why is he locking his door? How is he helping the system?" Arcand asked.

"That is a homeless situation. Who is he helping? The answer I see is zero."

Arcand said the EWC's 106 beds have been at capacity since it opened and there are hundreds of people on the waiting list.

"Fairhaven have been supportive all the way through and we're going to build that relationship," he said.

Arcand said the community and all levels of government have to step up to help solve the problem of homelessness.

"It's not just a neighbourhood problem, and people have to be educated and understand what's going on in our city," Arcand said. "At the end of the day what [the critics] are doing is they are trying to divide and conquer, and I'm not going to play that game."