Saskatchewan’s recent outburst of winter weather is taking its toll on residents and organizers of Camp Hope (formerly known as Camp Marjorie) in Regina.
You have them counting down the days until a planned move indoors can be completed.
“As we walked through the camp this morning, we noticed that a lot of things just didn’t survive the weather we’re having right now,” said Carmichael Outreach organizer and board chair Alysia Johnson.
“Maintaining the integrity of the structure of the tents, the wind really affects them. You have a lot of rips and a lot of tears. “
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More wind and snow are forecast for Regina over the next week.
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Johnson says his main concern with inclement weather, in addition to the obvious danger of the cold, is that some residents who may leave camp overnight to stay at a hotel or other indoor shelter may return to find the place they have built. your home is gone.
“It is definitely our last push,” he said, thanking the community of volunteers and local non-profit organizations that have come together to help operate the camp thus far.
“We are trying to keep hope. We are trying to buy as much time as possible. “
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Many of the camp’s tents are torn and broken, or have collapsed due to the wind and snow.
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After multiple requests in recent weeks, the city of Regina confirmed Monday that it had signed a lease to secure a temporary interior location for the camp.
The specific location, as well as the date the building will be ready to move in, has yet to be revealed.
“The timeline is constantly shrinking,” Regina Mayor Sandra Masters said Wednesday.
“I can tell you that we have signed a lease. We have some of the operating agreements in place. And right now, the latest operational parts, everything from security to WIFI and phone, dividers, the actual organization to make sure things are secure, we are very close. “
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Regina Treaty Status Indian Services, which agreed to help operate the camp when it moves inland, posted a series of 6-month job openings on Thursday, with application deadlines until November 12.
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“It would be wonderful to have a couple of extra tents,” he said of what could help Camp Hope overcome that last push.
“Especially since people are at the end of their hotel stay, it would be great if they went back to something and not an empty place.”
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