This is Vanese Ferguson with Coffee Talk. I distinctly remember covering a council or a committee meeting way back when and Pat Lorje was on council at that time when there was much debate over the Barry Hotel. This comes to mind today after I was on social media and read what started as one post that led to me reading many, many posts from people who have had difficult experiences while downtown. I know when we moved the radio stations from 3rd Avenue just off 19th Street during COVID, for the most part, staff was pretty happy to be up by the airport especially those of us who worked mornings. Experiences we were having trying to deal with the overflow from the Lighthouse at that time, was not awesome, to say the least. Which brings me to my point. A comment from Pat Lorje has stuck with me for years, and I believe has indeed proved its truth. The Barry had become what areas of downtown, sections of 20th Street for instance, have become today. She said if you demolish the Barry you’re just moving the problem somewhere else. And we did. And we have again. Meanwhile Prairie Harm Reduction, now whether you agree with the concept or not, this is a place where those who understand addiction and mental health, can be available to people otherwise always on the fringe of society. Well, they’ve run into some problems and desperately need funding to keep the doors open. I’m just gonna put it out there – where do you think all those people are going to go, if PHR doesn’t exist?
In Saskatoon it’s become a case of shifting the burden when dealing with addictions, mental health and homeless
Mar 25, 2026 | 6:37 AM





















