SASKATOON — The Saskatoon Tribal Council will be hosting a fundraising gala to celebrate the achievement of Chief Mark Arcand, named the city’s 2022 Citizen of the Year by CTV Saskatoon.
The gala will be on Jan. 19 at 6 p.m. at the World Trade Centre Saskatoon in Prairieland Park, with all proceeds going to the operation of the Emergency Wellness Centre that STC, under Arcand’s leadership, opened in December 2021.
Arcand has been busy trying to help Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples aside from working with Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark, the city council, local church leaders and other sectors in the community toward reconciliation and healing.
Under Arcand’s leadership, STC opened its wellness centre in the winter of 2021 to shelter homeless people as temperatures drop to extreme conditions. The centre also provided counselling services to help the “relatives” overcome their substance abuse addictions.
“I am honoured to be named the 2022 Citizen of the Year. I share this with the entire [STC] team, from our member chiefs to our employees. We cannot accomplish everything we did without the support of everyone,” said Arcand, the 56th person to receive the award.
“It is truly a team effort. We do everything for the people first and foremost. We do what’s right to help our community.”
The STC first opened its wellness centre downtown, where it could accommodate about 50 people and was operating at capacity during winter’s extreme weather conditions. The facility moved to Fairmont Drive with the help of the Saskatchewan Housing Corp.
SHC purchased the facility for $5 million and leased it to STC, which then transitioned the operations in early December. The facility has 106 beds to accommodate more relatives — whether Indigenous or non-Indigenous.
There are also areas where relatives can warm up if no more beds are available since STC does not want to turn anyone away, especially during extremely cold conditions. There is also a possibility of expanding the facility to house more individuals and families.
“The property serves as an area that has an opportunity to provide much space. There’s much space here that we can utilize. We have room for extension in this building in the future,” said Arcand in an earlier interview.
STC also unveiled Wîcihîtowin Project through the Substance Use Addictions Program of Health Canada, which committed $2.5 million as additional support for people struggling to overcome their drug and alcohol addiction issues.
A toy drive was held during the Christmas season for an estimated 20 kids staying at the EWC, a back-to-school backpack giveaway in August and fundraising last summer for two mental health crisis vans for the streets and schools of Saskatoon.
The vans are home to counsellors who visit Saskatoon inner city schools and supply mental health support. In the evening, the vans are used by Medavie paramedics to help with their evening calls.
Arcand also helped organize two urban powwows as part of reconciliation efforts and showed the beauty of Indigenous culture to help with reconciliation by starting the conversation and sharing the experience. More than 10,000 people attended both events.
Arcand, a Muskeg Lake Cree Nation member, was also presented with the Saskatoon Police Badge of Honour and the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medal while also being named a Discovery Saskatoon Legendary Builder.
He has lived in Saskatoon for almost 30 years with his wife and four children and now has three grandchildren. He continues to move forward with STC’s mission of making Saskatoon a better place for all Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
