FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BC Green MLA Rob Botterell and Reverend Kelly Duncan urge Sidney council to act fast to provide winter shelter for unhoused in Sidney
December 5, 2025
SIDNEY, B.C. – Rob Botterell, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands, and The Reverend Kelly Duncan, Rector at St Andrew’s Anglican Church in Sidney, are urging Sidney Council to take swift action to secure a safe winter shelter, as local church leaders rally this Saturday (Dec. 6) to highlight the realities of homelessness in the community.
In September, Council voted against the zoning changes needed for an Extreme Weather Response Shelter at Wakefield Manor. As a result, Sidney missed BC Housing’s September 30 deadline for winter shelter applications. Staff have been directed to return to council in mid-January with alternative location options.
This Saturday, St. Andrew’s Anglican Church will hold a rally urging Council to continue its work and address the significant gap created by the absence of an extreme cold weather shelter.
“We were ecstatic at the unanimous approval of the motion to find another location for an extreme weather shelter at last Monday’s Town Council meeting. We’ll be gathering on Saturday evening to show support for our under-housed neighbours, collect donations for the Backpack Project and continue to raise awareness about the need in our community,” explains The Rev. Duncan. “All are welcome to show their support!”
Approximately 10 to 20 people in Sidney are currently unhoused — many of them seniors — and the town does not have the same supports available in larger CRD municipalities.
“I want to thank the Council, along with the advocates and faith leaders who’ve kept this conversation going,” said MLA Botterell. “When I raised this issue in Question Period, the Housing Minister offered a clear commitment that the Province is ready to respond as soon as they receive a request from Sidney Council.”
Botterell emphasized that a well-managed shelter increases safety for everyone, and it’s important to act with urgency.
“This problem doesn’t disappear when you vote something down — without a safe shelter space with wraparound supports,people will still seek cover in doorways and foyers. That’s not good for anyone,” said Botterell. “Let’s leave no stone unturned in the search for an appropriate space. Local churches have stepped forward and are doing great work to identify possibilities.”
It’s clear there is strong community support to find a solution.
“We’ve been grateful for the number of Sidney residents who have emailed, phoned and dropped by the Church Office to show their support for an Extreme Weather Shelter here,” said Rev. Duncan. “People have thanked us for continuing to bring this issue forward. It’s a real need.”
Botterell echoed the need for a local shelter option.
“We hear regularly from unhoused seniors in Sidney, and I have been in contact with unhoused residents who fear a winter without somewhere warm to be. They want to stay here because travelling to Victoria for services is not easy, and this is their home,” said Botterell.
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Media Contact
Ryan Hook
Press Secretary
BC Green Caucus
+1 250-882-6187 | ryan.hook@leg.bc.ca