Local church finds permanent home downtown

After 6 months without a daytime home and centre, Metro Community has found a permanent home in the downtown of Kelowna.

Metro Community, a church consisting of people from all walks of life, known for its decade-long track record of advocacy and care for the most vulnerable and excluded in the valley, had been based out of a centre on the site of the proposed Westcorp hotel, on the corner of Water Street and Queensway. The previous centre was demolished to make way for the new development that has been since delayed another year. The church has been operating its weekday outreach and care services as creatively as possible in the meantime.

“It has been a difficult season for our team and especially for those we care for and serve among the vulnerable and street-connected community” says, Laurence East Lead Pastor. “Its hard to describe what a critical resource this was for so many, and its loss had a profound impact on our streets.”

After the previous ‘Metro Central’ centre was demolished, a proliferation of the homeless population on the streets downtown during the summer months became the subject of media attention. The City of Kelowna was forced to hire four new bylaw officers, and public speculation followed as to the reason for this sudden change.

“For the last six years, we have been a home during the day for many; providing meaningful activity, job opportunities, life skills, community, spiritual care as well as meeting a host of practical needs.” Says, East. “We look forward to building on that experience and being great neighbours, working in innovative ways to enhance and add to the richness our downtown.”

The new Metro Community daytime centre, located at 1262 St Paul Street, is strategically located outside the red zone, and the civic district, in a transitional area that includes, commercial, residential and industrial activity.