THUNDER BAY – As temperatures continue to drop below minus 20 degrees Celsius, it's more important than ever for the city's vulnerable population to find shelter from the cold.
PACE officials said that they're trying to help as many people as they can through their warming centre especially during this weekend's freezing temperature which they expect will lead to a steady stream of people through PACE's doors seeking warmth.
Executive Director, Georgina McKinnon said that just a couple hours after opening Saturday morning, the warming centre had already seen over 70 people come in and she estimates they'll see a lot more in the coming weeks.
"Last year we were seeing 120 to 150 people a day, already the numbers have surpassed what they were last year in the warmer weather,” she said.
“So, I'm thinking we're going to see 150 to 180 people a day easily. And they come in multiple times a day."
The warming centre, along with shelter, also provides food and drinks, warm clothes, and peer support, and McKinnon says it takes a lot of work to keep the warming centre open 7 days a week.
"We're open 12 and a half hours a day minimum, seven days a week, so it's at least 4 employees for two shifts a day, and a lot goes into keeping them busy, keeping them happy here,” she said.
“Thank you so much to the giant hearts here in Thunder Bay. We couldn't do it without the support of this community."
Peer Support Worker Don Mann reciprocates the sentiments and emphasizes the importance of having warming centres in the city.
"We have harm reduction, we have naloxone, we have all those supplies needed for people,” he said. “And it keeps them around here if they're using, you know, there's someone around."
The warming centre usually stay open until the end of March, but depending on the weather, they could keep services available well into April according to officials.
