A non-profit’s plan to bring a new day centre and other amenities to Lloydminster for the unhoused and people with addictions in the region has sparked debate in the border city.

The proposed plan for the Nitôtêm Resource Centre was officially announced on Tuesday by the Lloydminster and Vermilion for Equity Foundation (LVE), a grassroots non-profit that works to provide services and supports to people experiencing homelessness and addiction.

“Nitôtêm means ‘our friend’ in Cree,” Tigra-Lee Campbell, LVE president and co-founder, said during a news conference.

“Our funding is to reduce Indigenous homelessness, so we felt that connection to language was very important.” 

LVE says it is in the process of purchasing a building in Lloydminster’s downtown core, not far from other organizations offering beds, hot meals and connection to treatment and transitional housing.. 

Deborah Munroe, executive director of the Lloydminster Native Friendship Centre, said from April 2025 to February 2026, the downtown centre tracked more than 1,800 visits from people experiencing homelessness. 

“And that’s on the low side because we know people don’t always sign in,” she said.

But the proposed location has owners and employees of nearby businesses concerned about what they fear is the possibility of an increase in vandalism, disorder or needles on the ground. 

In a statement to CBC News, the Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce said it recognized the aims of the proposed centre, but noted its mandate is to advocate for a safe and sustainable business environment. 

“The chamber does not support the proposed location of the Nitôtêm Resource Centre and has significant concerns about its placement within the downtown core, where businesses are already navigating economic pressures.” 

Katie Ross-Perry has managed Hey Sugar! Bakeshop, across the street from the centre’s proposed site for the last 11 years. She said weighing the pros and cons of the project isn’t black and white. 

“We definitely understand that there’s a need for something like that in the area,” Ross-Perry told CBC News. 

“I think two things can be true at once: we can have empathy for the unhoused folks who are struggling, while being concerned for businesses in the area and how it might impact them.” 

She said while homelessness in the downtown area became more visible after the COVID-19 pandemic, the bakeshop has a good relationship with the unhoused population. 

“A lot of them come in and patron our store. They buy candy, they buy cupcakes, we give water if it’s needed. We treat everybody who comes into the store with dignity and with respect as they deserve, so we have never had an encounter,” Ross-Perry said.

“But that being said, that doesn’t negate other people who might have a different opinion.” 

For the centre to become a reality, it will first need municipal approval. A development permit application is in the early stages of review by Lloydminster city council. After all necessary documents are submitted, the city will then gather input from surrounding businesses, Campbell said.

In an email to CBC News, Mayor Gerald Aalbers said the city acknowledges the complex nature of initiatives related to homelessness, and the review will consider potential impacts and a range of community considerations. 

LVE held two community engagement meetings in March, but Campbell said participation and input was limited, and one-on-one sessions are now being offered so participants can feel more comfortable sharing. 

“What we’re hearing a lot is the safety piece, the loitering piece. ‘How are you going to keep it clean?’” said Campbell. “‘What are we going to do after hours when we leave?’”

She said the sessions are important for gathering relevant feedback and ensuring the project plan addresses local concerns. 

With a tentative opening set for summer 2026, the project has secured $500,000 in capital funding through the Métis Nation – Saskatchewan, and another $150,000 for operating costs from the Rural Development Network. 

Campbell said though the centre will provide culturally-relevant services to Indigenous people who need them, people from all cultures and communities in and around Lloydminster will be able to access the centre.