(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

must wait a few weeks to open

Location secured for overnight warming space near downtown Red Deer

Dec 24, 2025 | 1:18 PM

A location has been secured for a new overnight warming space in Red Deer, but there’s one hang-up.

The site at Red Deer’s Cannery Row, where the existing Safe Harbour-operated homeless shelter is, can’t open until at least mid-January.

That’s because even though the operator, Shining Mountains Community Living Services, has signed the lease for three months, city council must still approve a development permit.

Number one: city council is off for the holidays.

Number two: Bobby-Jo Stannard, the city’s safe and healthy communities manager, says the city must of course first receive a development permit application from the operator.

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Raye St Denys with Shining Mountains Community Living Services just signed the lease agreement with Steiner Properties on Dec. 23. She had hoped to open the site by Christmas, and is disappointed that won’t be achieved.

“I’m really glad we’ve got a place that we’ll be able to welcome people in, but I’m really upset that we can’t have it open now. It would be really useful if they could come in, be warm and be helped right now given the cold,” says St Denys.

“We will have it ready and welcoming as soon as we have permission.”

Capacity will be between 40 and 50, she says.

“As soon as council approved the budget request, we started working with community to develop the best solutions for those who are out in the cold,” Stannard says.

“Right now, we are working through logistics to ensure we’re adhering to municipal government regulations and that everyone can be in a safe space that is appropriate for them. We anticipate working directly with the provider to reach a successful conclusion by mid-January.”

The warming space is also going to have help from Turning Point Society, who will provide medical support through municipal funding, and through the Recovery Alberta naloxone project grant.

Council is slated to meet on Jan. 13.

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• Red Deer expanding warming spaces for people experiencing homelessness
• Hope Mission to take over Red Deer homeless shelter from Safe Harbour
• Two deaths, possibly from cold exposure, raise alarm amid Red Deer shelter situation and plight of homeless community