The operator of The Loop on the Kamloops North Shore says he will be swinging his doors open again this week for those who need it, starting tonight.

Glen Hilke tells NL News he is frustrated following a meeting between shelter operators on Tuesday afternoon, which he says was to discuss options as the temperature dropped dramatically.

“There is not a decision to have any additional warming spaces or any warming spaces this week during the emergency weather crisis, and it is a crisis,” Hilke said.

Speaking on NL Newsday, Hilke says he’s learned that at least two shelters in Kamloops which would normally operate this evening, won’t now, due to staffing shortages.

While he did not specify which ones, he says it has led to added stress at the other shelters – which are at capacity – leaving more people to fend for themselves.

“Provincial mandated policy is that once it gets to -10 C, we are supposed to assist people to not be at risk of death or illness,” Hilke said, noting he doesn’t anticipate this week’s opening of The Loop as a one-off.

“We will continue to do this until the temperatures warm up to some degree of acceptability or survival.”

Hilke also went on to say he has “a real problem” with the temperature-sensitive policy, noting he took a young woman with frostbite to the emergency room.

“Who created that or where does that come from? Why does it have to be -10C?” Hilke said. “I personally would not want to be sleeping outside in minus anything.”

“We will continue to do what we have to do until we see some kind of increase in-service support.”

He also voiced his frustrations towards the City of Kamloops for what he called “a lack of initiative” on their part.

“The city has chosen to not open up any of its other facilities and they do have facilities that they could open, the Parkview Activity Center which is similar to the Yacht Club on the North Shore could be a space if they wanted to do it,” he said, having first raised this issue to NL News earlier this month.

“The Sandman Center could be a space they’ve used in the past when they’ve had emergency weather smoke fire experiences, but they’re choosing not to open up any of their spaces,” Hilke said.

“I’m dismayed at the city’s lack of response, and purely on a humanitarian basis, I cannot understand that decision.”

Hilke’s comments come as the only emergency warming shelter planned for Kamloops – the Alliance Church on the North Shore – is not scheduled to open until Dec. 14. Meanwhile, overnight temperatures in Kamloops are expected to drop to around -16 C on Wednesday and Thursday.

“It’s not rocket science. Two weeks ago, any councillor, the mayor, senior bureaucrats in the Community and Protective Services Division, bylaws, and Community Service Officers could Google ‘Kamloops 14-day weather forecasts’ and they would have seen it coming,” said Hilke, noting the topic could have also been discussed at Tuesday’s council meeting.

“The weather report was there, we knew it was coming. Why is planning such an impossibility? That’s the question I ask when it comes to these vulnerable populations,” he said.

At the beginning of November, Hilke opened up The Loop as an emergency winter shelter after there was no emergency winter shelter in place in the city.

“Once again, The Loop is standing alone and planning to open up a warming center, as of today,” Hilke said.

-With Files from Paul James