Riverside Mission reportedly set to permanently close Friday

Riverside Mission is reportedly set to permanently close Friday after supper, this is according to a social media post by Square One Community Thursday evening.

Discover Moose Jaw has reached out to Soul’s Harbour – the operator of Riverside Mission – to independently verify the reports but hasn’t heard back as of publishing.

For several years, Soul’s Harbour has been securing funding support and developing plans for a new location on River Street. The new building would eliminate maintenance concerns and provide space for more programming for the food- and housing-insecure.

At a heated meeting of Moose Jaw City Council on July 8, several citizens claiming to represent a significant portion of Moose Jaw’s residents protested against the new location.

During the council meeting Soul’s Harbour director Joe Miller said more delays could cause Soul’s Harbour, locally headquartered in Regina, to completely withdraw its services.

In the social media post, Square One Community said they ‘are deeply saddened at this development,’ ‘grateful’ for all Riverside Mission has done for the community and that ‘Square One Community, Community Connections, St. Aidans, the community meal offering agencies and Faith communities will meet to ensure a continuum of meal offerings.’

‘We want to assure those who are food insecure that we will create a plan and communicate that plan,’ the post continued.