Mustard Seed ramps up efforts to support local vulnerable population during winter; seeking mens boots and winter gloves

By BRENDAN MILLER on November 29, 2025.

bmiller@medicinehatnews.com

Brendan Miller

bmiller@medicinehatnews.com

Following the first major snowfall event in Medicine Hat no official details have been released by the city in regards to providing aid to its vulnerable population following a pulled application by the Mustard Seed to develop a permanent shelter and holistic support centre on the city’s outskirts.

Despite the lack of news coming from city hall, officials at the Mustard Seed say they don’t plan to leave Hatters in the cold and have been ramping up efforts and donation drives to help individuals survive this winter.

The Mustard Seed operates a 24/7 overnight shelter on Eighth Street SE, with 34 beds at its location and some overflow space if needed, and is able to provide clients three meals a day as well as clothing and supports with an end goal of finding individuals sustainable housing.

This location does not provide daytime services to clients.

Meals are prepared at the Mustard Seed’s ghost kitchen location on Allowance Avenue, which also collects and distributes clothing donations.

This ghost kitchen location is only a temporary solution after the city’s Municipal Planning Commission approved an operation permit extension to operate throughout the Christmas holidays and New Year.

In August the Mustard Seed was given a 180-day operating permit extension, which means the permit will expire in February.

The Mustard Seed says it has ramped up efforts to connect with people on the street throughout the winter, operating a mobile outreach team for support.

“So they’re on the ground delivering breakfasts and clothing,” said Dave Conrad, senior director of volunteer and community engagement. “They are kind of meeting people where they’re at in the community to provide them with the support that they need.

“Even providing people with something as simple as gloves and boots and toques and things like that, is really important and can actually be life saving.”

Conrad says the team is actively visiting individuals downtown, in public spaces and in encampments around the city.

“We really want to be able to help provide the support that we can provide them until we get that permanent location that we’re looking for.”

No official details on any new locations have been released, however the Mustard Seed says its continuing to work with city officials to find an appropriate permanent shelter and support site.

“One of our hopes is that in our location, we can provide holistic support, those wraparound supports that people need,” explains Conrad. “Whether it’s from shelter to clothing to working with partners to help employment, health and wellness services. We’re an organization who is quite flexible and we can work out of a lot of different kinds of locations. We just want to be able to do the best that we can to support vulnerable Hatters down there and also be good neighbours, too.”

Hatters can also weigh in and suggest potential shelter locations through the city’s website, and those locations will be reviewed and brought forward in collaboration with the Mustard Seed.

“Hopefully we can find a suitable site sooner than later so that we can support the people who need the support down there.”

Right now the Mustard Seeds is running low on large size winter gloves and winter boots.

“So we desperately need those right now,” said Conrad.

Other donation items that are urgently needed right now include men’s and women’s winter coats, hoodies, sweatpants, underwear and socks. Toiletries including deodorant, toothpaste and toothbrushes, lotions, tissues and tampons are also in short supply.

Donations can be dropped off at the Mustard Seed’s Allowance Avenue location during regular business hours, and anytime at its 24/7 shelter location on Eighth Street SE.

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