Friendship centres busy across northern Sask.

Facilities provide social, housing, food supports as pandemic worries continue

Jean Badger misses the noise.

As the co-ordinator of the Aboriginal Headstart program at La Ronge’s Kikinahk Friendship Centre, she used to enjoy the sound of preschool students laughing and greeting their teacher each day. That’s gone now, as teachers only occasionally pop in to prepare homework packages.

“(It’s) lonely. Very lonely,” Badger said.

The La Ronge Friendship Centre is one of the locations acting as a backbone of community support for a broad region facing the pandemic.

By itself, the Kikinahk Friendship Centre offers a wide range of services, from a homeless shelter to prenatal programs.

It’s as busy as ever, despite its closed doors, said executive director Ron Woytowich.

“The staff are trying to do as much as they can.”

However, he misses gathering with them to share a cup of coffee bought special from Saskatoon. It was the highlight of his day at the best job he ever had, he said.

The community relies on the centre as much as ever.

Overcrowded housing in northern communities makes the homeless shelter’s services a necessity, Woytowich said. The centre has also endeavoured to send food to community members.

“Quite frankly, it’s very necessary, because wherever they have come from ... this is not the time to tell them to go back home.”

Therese Chartier, executive director of the Buffalo Narrows Friendship Centre, said her role has also stayed much the same, but it’s uncharted territory to play that role as the region faces COVID -19 infections. If the situation worsens, the centre is ready, she said.

Chartier recently helped deliver about 35 meat packages to La Loche residents as the community faces its own concerns over food security.

In 2020-21, the friendship centre there will get about $370,000 from the Ministry of Social Services, according to government spokesman Jay Teneycke.

“We’re ready to go, ready to help. We always will be ready to help,” Chartier said.

Bonnie Start, executive director at the Lloydminster Friendship, has also focused on food security, ensuring hampers are packed with fresh produce.

“That’s a need. A lot of the families and participants that come into the centre are low-income,” she said, noting a significant number are single mothers.

The centre is an essential service for people who won’t get help elsewhere, Start said.

Some of the community work is based on simple acts like calling people who live alone, or giving a pair of socks to someone in need.

“It may not sound important, but it is important to those people that are needing it,” she said.

If she can make a difference for one person or one family, that’s a success, she said, noting that new faces are trickling in, and she expects the numbers to grow.

Once the challenges of the pandemic lift, she’s excited to celebrate, she added.

“When all this is over and it’s safe to do so again, have a big a social event — free food and entertainment.

“I think a lot of people need that, a positive social get-together celebrating that we worked together and made it through.”