Manna Homeless Society Celebrates Parksville Council’s Historic Step Forward on Extreme Weather Shelter
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
After years of persistent advocacy, the Manna Homeless Society is thrilled to see Parksville’s Mayor and Council finally approve in letter form support for an extreme weather shelter in our community. For too long, articles in this paper highlighted how City Hall’s refusal to support even basic emergency shelter had left vulnerable residents of the Oceanside area exposed to life-threatening conditions. The lack of care contributed directly to preventable suffering and loss of life during harsh weather. Today, that long-standing barrier has lifted. What once felt impossible now stands as a genuine miracle and a profound blessing for everyone who calls this region home.
The new shelter offers just 10 beds — a modest beginning, yet an enormously important one. It signals a shift toward the kind of compassionate leadership our community has needed. A healthy community is only as strong as its willingness to care for every citizen, including those experiencing homelessness. By providing safe refuge when temperatures plunge or storms hit, Parksville is finally acknowledging that no one should have to face the elements without protection.
With the extreme weather shelter now supported by council, the Manna Homeless Society can redirect vital energy and resources toward the broader healthcare needs of the homeless and those at risk. We will now focus on strengthening our heath and foot care program, clothing program, feeding of the homeless, and our bicycle program — all areas that require important adjustments and expansion to better serve our community. These initiatives provide essential daily support, dignity, and practical help that complement the new shelter and address the full spectrum of challenges faced by our most vulnerable neighbours.
We can already see the positive effects unfolding. Lives will be saved. Emergency services will face less pressure. Families and businesses in the Oceanside area will experience greater safety and stability. Most importantly, people who have felt forgotten will know they matter. Dignity is being restored, one bed and one act of care at a time.
This decision gives us real hope. We look forward to strong, continued leadership from Council in the years ahead — leadership that builds on this foundation and ensures no one in our community is left behind. The Manna Homeless Society thanks Mayor and Council for choosing care over indifference. This is the start of something better for all of us.
Robin Campbell
Manna Homeless Society
Serving the Oceanside area
Monetary donations can be made by e-transfer to:
Or cheques can be sent to:
Manna Homeless Society
PO Box 389
Errington BC VOR 1VO
