Leaders looking for solutions on St. Paul vagrancy issue

Community leaders in St. Paul continue to discuss the ongoing issue of vagrancy. 

Last Thursday, St. Paul Mayor Maureen Miller sat down with multiple members of the town and surrounding areas to discuss some of the ways they can limit the vagrancy issues happening within the community. 

“We’ve been working very heavily for the last six to eight weeks on our challenges with vagrancy. I can tell you the town council myself definitely hears the concerns,” said Miller. 

Over the last year, St. Paul has seen an increase in vagrancy and criminal activity along Main Street. 

Two weeks ago, St. Paul and District Chamber of Commerce sent out a statement asking residents and business owners to send a letter with their concerns and issues they have been facing. 

“We had a great inter-agency conversation with the sole context being what can each one of us contribute,” said Miller. 

“Sharing that information, sharing what we can actually help each other on and getting a resolution.”

Multiple agencies were at the meeting, sharing what they can provide and can contribute to finding a solution, and helping to move forward in the right direction.

“We had our MLA there, which really needs to be my support on getting our message up to the next level of government,” said Miller. 

“We had mental health with AHS and addictions, Chamber of Commerce, Champions for Change, Community Futures the Capella Center. Trevor Kotowich was there for our own emergency services. We had Saddle Lake Healing Lodge, Mannawanis Friendship Center, RCMP, and Healings Wellness Court, which we need support involved in this decision because of how it’s responded to emergency services.”

Maureen Miller said she feels hopeful for the decisions and opportunities that are being presented to prevent vagrancy in St. Paul.

“So there’s definitely initiatives that are going to be engaged,” said Miller.