August 18, 2020
Re: Proposed Temporary Day Shelter Location
Dear Mayor Alty and City of Yellowknife Councillors,
We understand that the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has approached the City of Yellowknife with a proposal to turn the city-owned building on the corner of 50th Street and 49th Avenue (formerly home to the SideDoor) into a temporary day shelter until March 30, 2021.
Three different day shelter / sobering shelter locations have demonstrated that these services cannot be located near businesses or privately-owned buildings without negatively impacting them. Our members, many of whom are located downtown, have concerns about shop lifting, vandalism and break-ins, physical and verbal aggression towards staff and customers, and decreased foot traffic to local businesses, to name a few.
We understand that our community needs social supports such as a day shelter / sobering shelter, but these services should not and do not need to be located near the heart of downtown Yellowknife.
We were pleased with City Council’s decision to instruct the GNWT to look at alternative options and reapproach the City if no other options exist. In the event that no other suitable location can be found, it is Council’s responsibility to insist on impact mitigation measures including a ‘Good Neighbour’ agreement with surrounding businesses, and to lobby the GNWT for a more suitable, permanent solution for the longer term.
The Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce would be pleased to join the City’s lobbying efforts in this regard.
Sincerely,
Tim Syer
President
Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce
Deneen Everett
Executive Director
Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce