More Extreme Weather Response shelter spaces coming to Saanich

News Release
For immediate release

Saanich, BC – More Extreme Weather Response (EWR) shelter spaces to be available in Saanich this winter to support unhoused residents.

Broadview United Church (3703 St. Aidan’s Street), in partnership with Our Place Society, was recently approved to provide an EWR shelter at its facility. This initiative is supported by the District and funded through BC Housing’s EWR Program.

“By providing a safe, warm and comfortable space during the toughest nights of the year, these new EWR shelter spaces will make an incredible difference to people in need,” says Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock.

On top of the 20 new EWR shelter spaces being provided by Broadview and operated by Our Place Society, the Victoria Native Friendship Centre recently added 25 additional temporary winter shelter spaces. 

What is Extreme Weather Response sheltering?

Unlike nightly shelter spaces, which are available to guests every night for a period and are funded by BC Housing, EWR spaces become available when specific weather criteria are met. These criteria could include, but are not limited to, freezing temperatures, prolonged periods of rain, and snow.

Community partnerships

In December 2024, Saanich Council endorsed a recommendation directing staff to work in collaboration with third-party community organizations to increase options available to mitigate the effects of extreme weather on the unhoused in the municipality. At that meeting, Council also directed staff to work with neighbouring municipalities to coordinate efforts and share information to facilitate regional collaboration and alignment in extreme weather responses. 

By working with community organizations like Broadview United Church and Our Place Society, Saanich is following a model that has been successful in other municipalities across British Columbia. This approach enables the quick deployment of EWR services by combining non-profit expertise with the use of community buildings that are better suited to provide these supports than traditional municipal facilities.

This strategy also encourages partnerships between the community service providers and BC Housing under the provincial EWR Program, allowing the service provider to access available funds for eligible expenses as approved by BC Housing.

Public warming centres in Saanich

The public is welcome to warm-up at any of the District’s recreation centres and municipal hall during operational hours.

Recreation centre locations:

• Saanich Commonwealth Place (4636 Elk Lake Drive)
• Gordon Head Recreation Centre (4100 Lambrick Way)
• Cedar Hill Recreation and Arts Centre (3220 Cedar Hill Road)
• G. R. Pearkes Recreation Centre (3100 Tillicum Road)

Please visit saanich.ca/recreation for updates about hours of operation and other facility information. Please note, during extreme weather hours may vary due to staffing levels.

Saanich Municipal Hall:

• Located at 770 Vernon Avenue and open from Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Learn more

Visit saanich.ca and the District of Saanich social media channels for further updates.

For a map of all permanent, temporary and EWR shelters throughout communities in B.C., visit bchousing.org. The mapping resource is designed to display all active resources and does not showcase EWR sites until they are activated based on weather conditions.

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Media contact:
Saanich Communications
media@saanich.ca