Plans have been announced for a rally in support of the Lighthouse Serving the Battlefords on March 11.
The Lighthouse had faced potential closure, but was rescued by a grant from Métis Nation — Saskatchewan.
However, organizers of the rally note this is interim funding that is only guaranteed until September. They also note the Saskatchewan government is using an “outdated” per diem model of shelter funding.
The plan is to hold the rally on March 11 from noon to 1 p.m. outside North Battleford City Hall.
The purpose, according to the rally’s news release, is to “bring attention to the precarious funding situation faced by homelessness shelters in Saskatchewan and the work of the main organizers who are publicly rallying every day against this situation.” A number of speakers are expected to be there including Claudia Turner – Save the Lighthouse Organizer and Client of the Lighthouse, Richard Wolfe – Save the Lighthouse co-organizer, MLAs, city councillors and Lighthouse staff.
This is just the latest in what has been a series of daily demonstrations that have been ongoing since last week in support of the Lighthouse. Those have included street marches, with demonstrators walking from the Lighthouse to City Hall while carrying placards. According to a news release, the demonstrations have been going on since March 4 and have included what is described as a core group of about ten clients from the Lighthouse.
