Council rejects motion to remove controversial shelter location

By Christena Lawrie, CFRC's Broadcast Journalist and Local Journalism Initiative Reporter.

After much debate at their July 8 meeting, council voted 8-5 to keep 924 Sydenham Road as the site for a new 30-bed homeless shelter.

Councillor Paul Chaves brought forward a motion to remove the site from consideration, chiefly due to community opposition. 

Neighbours and representatives from the nearby cemetery and elementary school expressed their concerns before council, and a petition with over 1,000 signatures urged council to support the motion.

As a compromise, Mayor Bryan Paterson introduced a new motion calling for a review and reevaluation of the shelter after six months of operation. The review will include feedback from police, bylaw officials, and a neighbourhood liaison committee to determine if the shelter should be relocated.

Listen to the full story here.