Mustard Seed receives approval to continue kitchen operations at North Flats site

An amendment proposed by Coun. Shila Sharps and passed by the commission limited the permit’s period of validity to 90 days instead of the originally proposed 12 months.

The approval offers The Mustard Seed a minor reprieve ahead of Feb. 28, when the organization is shutting down operations at 503A Allowance Ave. Southeast after the commission denied a previous permit application.

The non-profit’s Eighth Street shelter was not included in January’s failed permit application and is allowed to continue operating as normal.

CEO James Gardiner told the commission Wednesday that its Jan. 15 decision to deny its previous permit created an “unintended consequence” that impacts its ability to feed people at the shelter.

The only option for the non-profit was to make the new application after exploring three other options, explained Gardiner.

He said a proposal to distribute food vouchers for public restaurants would force the organization to breach Alberta privacy laws.

Moving to another kitchen was ruled out as the organization could not afford rent and there wasn’t an available site. Catering was also not an option because of the cost, he added.

“Our request of you today is a food security issue for 30 to 35 people that are staying overnight,” Gardiner said.

The commission voted 4-2 to approve the new permit.

Clay Stevens, who owns a convenience store by The Mustard Seed on Allowance Avenue, wasn’t opposed to the commission’s decision.

“I don’t think it’s a bad thing,” Stevens told reporters after the meeting.

“They do need to continue their operations, but they do have to be monitored to make sure that they actually follow what they are supposed to be doing and not operating outside the boundaries like they have been.”

Stevens said the decision to limit the permit to three months should help speed up an ongoing collaborative effort by various stakeholders to find a new location for The Mustard Seed.

He also saw it as a sign that city leaders are listening.

“The council here is actually starting to look towards the citizens of Medicine Hat and realize we’re in need as well, and I believe they’re doing a good job,” he said.

Stevens and other residents have previously accused local leaders of not listening as they raised concerns over the behaviour of Mustard Seed users who commit crime and illicit acts in their neighbourhoods.

Deardre Cannon, another concerned resident, told the commission that issues have persisted near the shelter.

She incorrectly implied that daytime services would be shifted from The Mustard Seed’s Allowance Avenue location to the shelter.

The Mustard Seed says it will not transfer daytime services to the shelter. However, those that stay at the shelter will remain at the site for all 24 hours in a day instead of being transferred to Allowance Avenue.

Another resident said she opposed the application because of actions by the organization in the past.

“I oppose this application because, given the recent history of The Mustard Seed, if they get this change of us, they might pivot again,” the woman said.

A woman who said she owns a business near the shelter argued in favour of permit approval.

She told the commission’s members that stopping the kitchen from operating would be “a travesty”.

After Feb. 28, only Mustard Seed staff will be able to access the Allowance Avenue building.

In response to a question from Sharps, Gardiner said about five staff would work in the kitchen plus an additional two-to-four volunteers.

Sharps at one point proposed potentially having The Mustard Seed shelter guests at a city building. Planning staff said that wasn’t within the scope of the decision.

This is a developing story. More details to follow.

by Olivia Thorington

Mustard Seed receives approval to continue kitchen operations at North Flats site

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