Prairie Harm Reduction not invited to community meeting targeting their facility

A community engagement meeting, organized by a Conservative MP, is being held tonight to discuss concerns over Saskatoon’s safe consumption site, Prairie Harm Reduction. But the organization that is subject of the meeting has not been directly invited to participate.

“No, I’ve had no contact with the organizers of the meeting,” said Kayla Demong, executive director of Prairie Harm Reduction (PHR).

The meeting is taking place at 7:00PM at the Confederation Inn in Saskatoon, hosted by Conservative MP Brad Redekopp. The invite reads:

“For an interactive discussion on the impacts of the supervised consumption site to community safety on Saskatoon’s west side. This is an opportunity to have your concerns heard!”

The meeting is being co-presented by Saskatoon West Business Association and Riversdale Business Improvement District.

“(Not being invited to participate) shows so much disrespect for an entire part of the community, and completely disregards the people that they’re wanting to talk about,” said Demong. “It’s a way to fear-monger and further discriminate the people who are accessing our services and create more fear. Whether that’s their intention or not, that’s what is happening.”

The invite, addressed to “Riversdale Business Owner, Resident & Community Partner” invites a conversation on PHR’s “application to continue operating a supervised consumption site”.

The invite reads:

“We wish to hear from everyone affected by the location of the site and the activities in and around our community that are impacting your quality of life, your livelihood, and most importantly, your safety and well-being.”

In order to operate their facility, PHR must renew an exemption through Health Canada, accessing Section 56, which permits them within the guidelines of Health Canada to have individuals use substances on the property without punishment.

As PHR must apply for their annual renewal this spring, Demong said she believes this meeting has been organized in effort to shut down their facility.

“They’ve specifically cited our renewal application (in the community meeting invite). I think they believe this will somehow give people the power to close us down. And it won’t,” she said.

“Brad Redekopp and the Conservatives have been very clear about how they feel about safe consumptions sites. We’ve seen a huge backlash across the country of sites being closed down and forced out.”

A campaign letter sent out to constituents by Redekopp’s office in 2024 states:

“Harm reduction’ is the buzz word that privileged, rich, white folks, living in their upper-middle class neighbourhoods, use to describe the process of handing out illicit drugs like candy to addicts, while hoping they don’t overdose and kill themselves.”

The letter also states safe consumptions sites are “a proven formula for failure”, and proposes that the Conservative Government “will provide treatment and 12-step options for those addicted, to help them turn their lives around.”

Brad Redekopp did not respond to an interview request by the time of publication.

Demong said that while funding for safe consumptions cites comes from provincial governments, not federal, PHR has relied on community support from businesses and individual donors, rather than the province, to keep their doors open.

“We’ve never been funded, which is a blessing and curse. We have a bit more security because the province can’t pull our funding,” said Demong.

Demong said support for their facility comes from a multitude of diverse sources, including churches, community groups, seniors, and people of all ethnicities and denominations.

“Despite targeted attacks like this, and how upsetting it is, I also know we’ll survive because the people of the province want us here.”

According to PHR, in 2025 they supported a total of 1,023 individuals – a 22 percent increase from 2024, as well as helped reverse 153 overdoses in 2025.

The most recent point-in-time count identified 1,931 individuals in Saskatoon experiencing homelessness, a 29 percent increase from 2024.

With the increase in homeless individuals and encampments around the city, Demong said that fingers often get pointed in their direction.

“It has become normal to drive around the city and see an encampment or people sleeping outside. That concern has spread throughout the city, it’s not concentrated in our area anymore. We want people to be safe, but it’s also not our fault when businesses blocks or miles away are having concerns,” said Demong.

With several resources concentrated in a small area, including St. Paul’s Hospital, PHR, Westside Community Clinic, and STC Health Centre, Demong said she hears complaints about the individuals in the area.

“The executive director of the Riversdale BID has been very public about community resources being located in Riversdale and the impact it has had. I’ve worked in this area for 20 years and that’s always been a conversation here, about spreading them out.”

Demong said PHR works closely with the police, and have requested for an increased police presence in the area to increase feelings of safety.

In regards to the community meeting about PHR, Demong said she plans to attend.

“I’m anticipating to hear a lot of people direct hate, anger, and discrimination towards us. I’m not going to start a fight. I’m not going to protest. I’m going to attend and listen. I’m always willing to sit down with people,” she said.

“We do tours all the time. I hope that the businesses and residents that are there choose to reach out, to learn, to engage with us.”