An overnight warming centre has reopened in downtown Prince Albert to protect people from dangerous winter temperatures. The Meeting Place, operated by the Prince Albert Salvation Army at 900 Central Ave., opened Monday and welcomed 25 people on its first night. For people like Darla Ballantyne, who suffered frostbite last winter while sleeping outside, the centre offers a critical alternative to exposure during extreme cold.
The facility provides chairs rather than beds and serves as a safe space when local shelters are full. It can accommodate up to 35 people at a time, with a rotation system in place if capacity is reached so others can come in to warm up. Salvation Army Major Ed Dean expects usage to increase as police, hospitals and outreach services direct people there, noting that as many as 60 people used the centre on peak nights last winter.
Health officials warn that cold exposure can cause frostbite, hypothermia and death, and urge the public to call 911 if someone appears at risk outdoors. While paramedics can only transport people to medical facilities, the warming centre helps ease pressure on hospitals and may save lives.
Funded through a $260,000 provincial grant to the City of Prince Albert, The Meeting Place operates nightly from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. until April and also offers daytime services such as laundry, showers and clean clothing.
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