REGINA — A powerful winter blizzard has pushed warming centres across the city to capacity, with staff at one Regina shelter forced to turn people away as frostbite fears return.
At the Seven Fires Warming Shelter inside the Nēwo-Yōtina Friendship Centre, the doors opened at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday and filled almost immediately.
“Overnight we were quite full, hovering at capacity pretty well all night and there were some times we had to turn folks away because we were at capacity,” said Morgan Choquer, housing programs manager at the Nēwo-Yōtina Friendship Centre.
She said the surge began as soon as the evening shift started and continued through the night and into today.
“We’ve seen pretty well steady at capacity with an unusual influx of folks,” Choquer explained.
The Seven Fires Warming Shelter operates seven days a week from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m., offering more than just a heated room. Guests receive snacks and meals, along with coffee, water, tea and hot chocolate when supplies allow. Warm clothing such as gloves, toques, neck warmers and hand warmers is available. Staff also provide basic first-aid items including bandages and gauze.
Inside, the space is designed to be calm and welcoming. Cards, dice games and colouring activities help pass the hours.
“Just something to keep people occupied and to give them kind of a healthy and happy activity to do while they’re in there keeping warm,” Choquer said.
The urgency is real. After several weeks of milder weather, Choquer reports frostbite concerns have returned.
“We have noticed yesterday and today a few people complaining of frostbite. This is something that we didn’t see for quite a while because we had that nice stretch of weather there. But with the weather changing, that concern is definitely coming back.”
According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, frostbite can develop in minutes when wind chills drop below minus 30. Saskatchewan regularly experiences some of the coldest winter temperatures in the country, increasing the risk for anyone without reliable shelter.
Community agencies say demand for warming spaces has grown in recent years as homelessness and housing instability continue to challenge cities across the province. Cold snaps and storms like this week’s blizzard place additional strain on already stretched services.
Warming centres play a critical role in preventing serious injury and death during extreme weather. Beyond heat, they offer connection, food and access to support workers who can help link individuals to longer-term housing and services.
Choquer states the surge this week is a reminder of how quickly conditions can turn dangerous.
When temperatures fall and snow flies, a warm building can mean the difference between discomfort and crisis. For many in Regina this week, it has meant survival.
Regina has three warming centres:
- Seven Fires Warming Shelter: 1635 11th Ave. (operated by Nēwo-Yōtina Friendship Centre)
- Carmichael Outreach: 1510 12th Ave.
- Awasiw (All Nations Hope): 2735 5th Ave.
