SASKATOON — The Saskatoon Tribal Council-run Emergency Wellness Centre has also been feeling the high prices of food and other essential commodities caused by inflation. Still, thanks to the assistance provided by groups like the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority, they can manage to provide for the relatives staying at their facility.
On Tuesday, March 14, SIGA — led by its President and Chief Executive Officer Zane Hansen — turned over a check for $100,000 to STC Chief Mark Arcand and EWC Manager Kayla McKay, money that will be used to buy food to feed the relatives that are staying at the facility since they moved from downtown to Fairmont Drive.
Hansen said homelessness had been a community problem and SIGA, a non-profit organization providing jobs and other opportunities to First Nations Peoples, wants to help be part of a solution and help the relatives under STC’s care since opening the EWC in December 2021.
“I want to commend [STC Chief] Arcand and the incredible work done here to help support others who need our community here in Saskatoon. SIGA is proud to contribute $100,000 to the nutrition program. There are going to have incredible developments here to enhance the quality of life and services for all the relatives that are staying here,” said Hansen.
“I think the current events in the city and the need for a [facility] like this is important. We are a First Nations-owned company across Saskatchewan. Giving back is central to what we do. As much as we focus on our business, we are also a non-profit and 100 per cent of our proceeds go back to support a wide range of initiatives and causes.”
Hansen added that SIGA stepping up to assist the wellness center had been an obvious decision for their leadership as it is the right thing to do and they are proud of the work alongside the STC as they continue providing the assistance and expanding the services given to the relatives who are in most need.
“We can make a direct contribution to the wellness centre. It is amazing here. Look at the three and a half months; you look at the programming and services. It goes so much beyond providing shelter and nutrition. It is something else. The more we need to support their plans to improve the quality of life for the relatives here.”
The $100,000 donation given by SIGA is considered the largest the EWC has received since beginning its operations more than a year ago. The money will help ease the costs of providing food to all relatives at the facility. During winter, the EWC feeds the relatives over $50,000 a month.
Arcand thanked SIGA for the donation, as it will go a long way in helping with the operating costs at the EWC by providing three meals a day and snacks to all the relatives, as they only receive funding for 106 individuals but have been helping more people, especially during the extreme cold conditions this winter.
“We want to [thank] SIGA for contributing to the nutrition program. Organizations like SIGA help us make a big difference in the community. We all know that Saskatoon is a place coming together to support [each other]. It is good to see an Indigenous-owned corporation like SIGA contribute to the wellness centre to help the relatives,” said Arcand.
