Here’s what to know about the future of The Mustard Seed in Medicine Hat

After Feb. 28, the building once occupied by River Valley Community Church before The Mustard Seed took over will be closed to the public.

That’s because of a decision by the city’s planning authority to deny a permit application that would have legitimized its daytime services at the site and added an overnight shelter element.

The organization was given a March 3 stop work order deadline by the city a few weeks after the Municipal Planning Commission’s Jan. 15 ruling.

That same body later approved a different application from The Mustard Seed requesting permission to continue operating a commercial-size kitchen.

The Municipal Planning Commission approved a 90-day permit. The Mustard Seed would be forced to request an extension if it wants to operate the kitchen past three months.

The kitchen serves The Seed’s emergency shelter guests and delivers food to other organizations.

The shelter — located on Eighth Street Southeast in the South Flats area — was not part of the planning commission’s earlier denial, so The Mustard Seed is able to continue operating there for now.

Graphic/CHAT News

Mustard Seed CEO James Gardiner says the organization is dedicated to continue serving people in Medicine Hat.

That’s despite criticism from the community over the behaviour of those who use the Community Impact Centre and the emergency shelter.

Those concerns came to a head at a public town hall on Jan. 8, ahead of the commission meeting when the permit was denied.

Many of those same residents were happy to hear The Mustard Seed would be shuttering its daytime operations in the North Flats.

Others, too, were supportive of the Municipal Planning Commission’s decision to allow The Mustard Seed to keep preparing food at its commercial-size kitchen.

Clay Stevens, the owner of a convenience store by the Allowance Avenue site, said it’s “not a bad thing” the kitchen will be allowed to operate.

“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,” he told reporters after the Feb. 19 meeting.

The focus for the community has narrowed now on an effort to find a new, all-in-one location for The Mustard Seed’s presence in Medicine Hat.

An collaborative effort between the Alberta government, Medicine Hat Community Housing Society and other stakeholders was launched last year to find a new site.

However, officials have yet to produce a shortlist of options.

The Mustard Seed says it serves three meals at the impact centre to about 130 people daily, including the approximately 35 who stay at the overnight shelter.

It also provides essential mail services, health supports and acts as a frontline to connect people with other organizations in the city.

When the Community Impact Centre’s doors are locked up after Feb. 28, many vulnerable people will be unable to access those services elsewhere.

The Salvation Army does offer a dinnertime meal and told CHAT News it anticipates an increase in people using its services.

The Root Cellar Food and Wellness Hub is also expecting an uptick in people taking the free snack bags it offers for unhoused people.

Gardiner, the CEO, said at the Feb. 20 commission meeting that he’s pleased councillors at the meeting expressed clear interest in helping to find a new Mustard Seed location.

“We have a public position that’s taken now to get the city more involved, which is great,” he said.

Now, the waiting begins.

by Eli J. Ridder

Here’s what to know about the future of The Mustard Seed in Medicine Hat

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