Some Yellowknifers advocating for more shelter space for the citySA国际影视传媒檚 most vulnerable populations have penned an open letter to businesses to petition them for support, Sept. 24.

SA国际影视传媒淲e are a group of concerned Yellowknife residents calling on Yellowknife businesses to support the establishment of a day shelter in downtown Yellowknife at the Franklin (Avenue) and 48 (Street) location,SA国际影视传媒� the document reads.

It also states that petitioners may choose to boycott businesses who oppose the shelter.

More than 200 Yellowknifers have signed the petition so far, and the list is growing. The document was presented to the municipal Governance and Priorities Committee, Sept. 27.

Nick Sowsun, founder of the Facebook group Concerned Yellowknife Residents for a Day Shelter Downtown, said he started the online page last year when the city faced a similar crunch housing people experiencing homelessness in the winter months.

He said he and other concerned residents decided to write the letter a week ago to bring local businesses to the discussion table as winter looms.

As one of the organizers of the petition, he said community support for the downtown shelter has been SA国际影视传媒減retty amazing.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淧ublic concern is growing,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

He said the group is working on compiling a list of businesses who support a downtown shelter that they can present at the next city council meeting, Oct. 4.

Some local businesses have been critical of the location, saying if the proposed site at Franklin Avenue and 48 Street goes ahead, their business will suffer.

Christine Wenman owns PlanIt North and co-owns Sundog Trading Post in Yellowknife. She said she signed the petition because itSA国际影视传媒檚 important to her that businesses who support a downtown shelter are heard.

SA国际影视传媒淚t really makes me sad that itSA国际影视传媒檚 seen as a dichotomy between supporting businesses and supporting people experiencing homelessness,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 hope we can start to shift the conversation from them versus usSA国际影视传媒� I think thereSA国际影视传媒檚 room to come together.SA国际影视传媒�

She said small businesses have been through a lot and that itSA国际影视传媒檚 important to SA国际影视传媒渕ake space for the concerned voices.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚 would like to see the GNWT create space for the discussion,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲hy did this discussion not take place months ago?SA国际影视传媒�

Sowsun agrees, telling Yellowknifer SA国际影视传媒渢here is a massive planning failure.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚t comes down to priorities,SA国际影视传媒� he said.