There will be a new operator of the emergency shelter in Sioux Lookout effective Thursday, September 1.
Nahnahda-Wee-ee-Waywin-Sioux Lookout Sexual Assault and Counselling Centre will take over from the Out of the Cold program.
It is an Indigenous-based organization operated under the First Step Women’s Shelter.
The change comes from a collective vision by current OOTC Board Members for a more sustainable shelter in the community that was announced in May 2022.
Tana Troniak is the Executive Director of First Step Women’s Shelter and says they are committed to ensuring people have access to a safe, warm, comfortable place to spend the night.
She notes 2 meals will be offered a day with plans to increase the number to 3 in the near future.
Troniak adds they will be working towards creating a space where all people will feel welcome and have access to many services, including working towards finding safe affordable housing.
There will be no impacts on individuals that access overnight emergency shelter operations during the transition of operation.
Hours of operation will be 5:00 pm until 9:00 am with breakfast and light supper available to patrons.
The new operator says it will be working towards 24-hour service programming.
This summer, the Kenora District Services Board issued an Expression of Interest for future operation services and enhancements to the current shelter strategy.
Chief Administrative Officer Henry Wall says, “The Kenora District Services Board is pleased to be moving forward with Nahnahda-Wee-ee-Waywin-Sioux Lookout Sexual Assault & Counselling Centre. Nahnahda-Wee-ee-Waywin’s mission in providing a community safe-place to access support services, is very much in line with the sustainable and collective vision the community has for emergency shelter operations. We look forward to the new partnership. This change is an opportunity to bring together with other community partners.”
