The Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) is talking about the closure of the Community Cares Kitchen in Prince Albert.
The facility which was operated by PAGC Urban Services provided meals and other supports to homeless membership in the city. In a media release sent out Wednesday morning the Tribal Council said the Community Care Kitchen was forced to close due to a lack of available funding, specifically the exhaustion of funds provided during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Tribal Council said the kitchen had not had stable funding for the past six months.
Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte said the facility stood as a symbol of compassion and community support. He added the shelter being forced to close its doors shows their is work to be done.
“Its closure highlights an urgent and growing need to find sustainable, dignified solutions for our most marginalized community members,” he said.
PAGC said they are going to continue to work with a range of local organizations and groups, including the City of Prince Albert to find solutions. Al Ducharme, executive director for PAGC said they are committed to helping people who are in need in P.A. Ducharme said they will also push both levels of government to provide more support.
“We will continue to lobby the federal government and provincial governments and various organizations to secure both a location and a permanent location,” he said.
The PAGC Community Cares Kitchen had been operating for two years.
(Volunteers helping provide meals and the Community Cares Kitchen. Photo courtesy of Legacy of Moose Lodge Wellness Centre and Community Cares Kitchen.)