FUNDRAISING KICKOFF — From left: Chief Felix Thomas, Keith Martell, Sonya and John Remai, Don Gorsalitz and Geselle Doell gather for a presentation of a $100,000 donation from the Remais, kicking off a fundraising campaign for an expansion of Friendship Inn, a helping agency in Saskatoon.(photo by Blake Sittler)

Friendship Inn in Saskatoon to expand

By Blake Sittler

SASKATOON — A major donation has been made to an expansion campaign to increase space at a local helping agency’s current location.
John and Sonya Remai recently donated $100,000 to kick off fundraising efforts for Friendship Inn, which for more than 40 years has fed the hungry in downtown Saskatoon.

“What really impressed us about this expansion is that they will be offering programs to help people get that leg up,” said Sonya, “to get some education, training, to find work in the community.”

“It is incumbent upon us in Saskatoon to share a little bit and try to give everyone that same opportunity,” said John.

Felix Thomas, chief of Saskatoon Tribal Council, accepted the cheque on behalf of Friendship Inn.

Thomas noted that the expansion is not simply about the growing need for food but also to help guide guests of Friendship Inn to needed services.

“They might come in for food but when they’re here we can also find out what their other needs are,” he said.

Thomas noted that education, affordable housing and growing numbers of working poor are major issues in the First Nations community.

Friendship Inn does a great job with the resources it has at its disposal, said Keith Martell, CEO of First Nations Bank and vice-chair of the capital campaign, but the expansion coincides with broader efforts to renew the core neighbourhood.

“The new facility will take this place to the next step, make it a facility that people can be proud to come in and support,” said Thomas. “We want the food part of Friendship Inn to be temporary, but we want the friendship to be permanent.”

Geselle Doell, executive director of Friendship Inn, said that the vision of the campaign is broad. The dining area is crowded, and there is no place to park the van they use to collect donations.

The expansion will also allow the Inn to reclaim services that existed in the past but were lost owing to lack of space and funding, said Doell. “We want to bring back some of our programming,” such as outreach addiction workers, a pro bono law clinic, flu shots, blood pressure clinics. “These were all offered here at one time.”

Doell believes that Saskatoon should be proud of what Friendship Inn does in the city. More than a simple charity, it is a place where people come so they are not alone.

“You couldn’t pick a better name for an organization. This is a feel-good enterprise. For elderly people who are lonely, for those who need us, we are a consistent presence. We have been open 365 days a year for 41 years, and people here know that.”

Saskatoon Friendship Inn was started in 1969 by James Leier of Our Lady of the Prairies Foundation, who saw a need for a soup kitchen for single transient men coming to Saskatoon looking for employment. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon donated the present building, and working with the Inner City Council of Churches assisted in getting the service established. The Inn soon began serving anyone who was in need of a meal. 

Today Friendship Inn serves breakfast and lunch to approximately 500 people a day, 365 days a year. Professional counselling services are provided by an on-site family worker, along with other health-based organizations. The Saskatoon diocese has continued its connection, supporting Friendship Inn through the Bishop’s Annual Appeal and providing fundraising counsel for the present expansion campaign.