The Mustard Seed's community kitchen along Allowance Avenue will be able to continue its operations throughout 2025 after securing an extension to their permit Wednesday. The organization says it is still working to find a new shelter location to serve the community.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
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Members of the municipal planning commission have unanimously approved a 180-day operation permit extension for the Mustard Seed’s community kitchen on Allowance Avenue while a long-term plan for a permanent shelter remains incomplete.
Brad Irwin, senior city planner, presented committee members the application to extend the operation from the Community Food Service building.
The community kitchen provides low-income individuals and families healthy, low cost meals seven days a week prepared on site and distributed off site. The building itself is not open to the public.
The new extension will allow the community kitchen to continue its operation longer than its previous development permit, which was set to expire Sept. 4, and throughout the Christmas holidays,
Irwin told committee members the extension aligns with the community wellness priority of council’s strategic plan and is supported by the Municipal Development Plan.
“(The MDP) outlines the need to support healthy development and social well being of our residents.”
During his presentation, Irwin said that since the facility opened after the Mustard Seed’s daytime services centre on Eighth Street SE permanently closed in February, the city’s planning and development services has not received any complaints from neighbouring residences.
“Which indicates to us there has been no increased impact on the surrounding area for the proposed use,” he explained.
James Gardiner, CEO Mustard Seed, also told committee members the organization is actively performing neighbourhood monitoring on the impacts of the community kitchen while they work toward finding a new permanent shelter location to serve the community.
Until then, the transition period and uncertainty of not having a concrete plan in place has been strenuous on the Mustard Seed.
“It’s been very difficult on our staff, and it makes it difficult to hire staff when you have an end date,” said Gardiner. “Thankfully our staff who are here are committed to us.”
Coun. Shila Sharps expressed apprehension about extensions to the operation of the kitchen and emphasized the need to focus on a long-term plan for the community.
“I will say that I personally, I will approve this, but I won’t give you a non expiry,” explained Sharps. “I think that there’s lots of good things happening but we also have a responsibility to the community.
“I want to see everybody purposely moving forward, the province, the city, the elected officials, the next group to make sure that what you need comes to fruition.”
The controversy over shelter operations led the provincial government to step in with heavy criticism of the city’s handling of the issue after its operating permit was found out of order and nearby residents objected after the Mustard Seed applied to add overflow shelter space at the former church.
