Since 2025, the Town of Sidney has been exploring options to provide a safe indoor space for people experiencing homelessness during periods of extreme winter weather. This work has included evaluating potential locations, engaging service providers, seeking community input, and piloting a temporary overnight warming centre.
Share your thoughts on an application to operate Extreme Weather Response Shelter at St. Andrew Anglican Church
On June 22, 2026, Council advanced a Temporary Use Permit application to the neighbourhood notification stage to support an Extreme Weather Response Shelter at St. Andrew Anglican Church (9691 Fourth Street). Community members are invited to share feedback on this application for Council to consider at the July 13, 2026 Council meeting which begins at 6pm in Council Chambers at Town Hall.
Feedback can be submitted by:
- Submitting written comments to Mayor and Council by emailing admin@sidney.ca.
- Attending the July 13 Council meeting and speaking during the public participation period.
- Registering to participate in the July 13 Council meeting electronically by contacting admin@sidney.ca or 250-656-1139 before noon on the day of the meeting.
The shelter would be operated by Beacon Community Services and open only during extreme winter weather conditions that pose a risk to people experiencing homelessness.
The shelter would provide overnight sleeping mats and a warm meal. To support safety, there would be no re-entry during overnight operating hours. Operational and staffing costs would be funded by BC Housing. If approved, the Temporary Use Permit would allow seasonal operation of the shelter for up to three years.
The initiative aligns with priorities identified in the Town’s Strategic Plan.
Temporary Overnight Warming Centre
To address immediate winter needs in early 2026, Council approved a temporary overnight warming centre at the Nell Horth Room adjacent to the Sidney/North Saanich Library. Operated by Beacon Community Services with support from the Sidney Fire Department, the centre was activated for seven nights during periods of freezing or near-freezing weather in February and March 2026.
A total of 15 individuals accessed the service, most of whom were aged 50 and older. More than half of users identified as Indigenous or Métis. The centre operated from 8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., providing a safe indoor space, food and beverages, washroom access, and secure storage for personal belongings.
Beacon Community Services reported that the warming centre operated successfully, with no safety incidents and no disruption to library services. The facility was left clean and orderly after each use. The experience helped address immediate winter needs while informing ongoing planning for a longer-term Extreme Weather Response Shelter in Sidney.
Background
In January 2025, Council directed staff to pursue options for a shelter that could be activated during extreme winter weather to provide a safe place for people experiencing homelessness.
In September 2025, a Public Hearing was held regarding a proposal to operate an Extreme Weather Response Shelter in a separate space at Wakefield Manor, managed by Beacon Community Services. Following significant community feedback, Council did not approve the zoning amendments required for the proposal to proceed.
Staff subsequently continued to explore suitable sites and service providers for an Extreme Weather Response Shelter or overnight warming centre in Sidney. These efforts led to the establishment of the temporary warming centre in the Nell Horth Room for early 2026 and the current proposal to operate an Extreme Weather Response Shelter at St. Andrew Anglican Church.
Questions & Answers
During the winter of 2024/2025, concerned community members, including local volunteers and two organizations, asked Sidney Council to take action to better support people experiencing homelessness during extreme weather events.
These requests came from:
-The City of Victoria, which regularly activates emergency warming centres during cold weather, and
-St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, which provides outreach support in Sidney, including meals and assistance for people experiencing homelessness.
In response, Council directed staff to work with BC Housing to explore a temporary Extreme Weather Response Shelter in Sidney. This type of shelter would only open during extreme weather conditions that put the health and safety of unhoused individuals at risk, such as freezing temperatures, heavy snow, or dangerous storms. In times where the weather is not extreme, the shelter would not open.
No. An Extreme Weather Response Shelter or warming centre would not be a permanent facility. These would only be activated on nights with dangerous weather, typically fewer than 10 nights per year based on past trends.
Yes, as long as individuals behave safely and respectfully, they would be welcome to use an emergency shelter or warming centre during extreme weather events.
However, to maintain a safe and respectful space for everyone:
-No drugs or alcohol could be used on-site;
-All guests would need to follow shelter/centre rules and behave in a way that does not put others at risk;
-Trained staff would be on-site at all times; and
-Security may be provided when the shelter is open to ensure safety for residents, neighborhood and those seeking shelter.
These concerns are valid, and they are being taken seriously. A temporary shelter or warming centre would be:
-Professionally operated by trained staff (overnight security may also be provided)
-Open only when the extreme weather alert is activated.
Beacon Community Services is a trusted non-profit that has supported the Saanich Peninsula since 1974. Many residents know Beacon through:
-The SHOAL Centre on Resthaven Drive
-Employment Services on Third Street
-Local Thrift Shops in Sidney
Beacon also has extensive experience running shelters and supportive housing in region, including:
-Out of the Rain Youth Shelter in Victoria, for over 15 years
-Mirrors Supportive Housing in Victoria, opened in 2023