04/02/2026
After more than a year and a half of work, the Dryden Warmth Project opened the doors of its drop-in centre at 34E King St. on Saturday.
The space, accessible by a back lane entrance, consists of a dedicated centre for people experiencing homelessness on Saturdays and Mondays from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Lynda Ménard-Penner, the project’s chair, said they’re extremely excited that the space has finally opened its doors.
“There has been a lot of work that’s been going on for probably a year and a half now,” Ménard-Penner said, referencing the project’s advocacy and lobbying efforts, alongside paperwork, applications and discussions that were held.
As a grassroots group with people working on a volunteer basis, she said it was “very exciting” to see the enthusiasm and passion they had to see the project to fruition.
“More support is required immediately to stabilize and build upon current vital emergency supports and transitional steps to move vulnerable individuals from homeless to housed,” stated the 2025 Kenora District Services Board's homelessness enumeration.
LISTEN | Lynda Menard-Penner: Dryden Warmth Project :
Superior Morning4:38
Lynda Menard-Penner: Dryden Warmth Project
For a long time, the City of Dryden has been without a warming centre.That changed this weekend. Hear from the chair of the Dryden Warmth Project about what it means to open those doors.
In the Kenora district, 213 people who were sheltered in public systems reported they would otherwise be homeless if they exited that day, according to a district-wide survey conducted in mid-October.
The enumeration counted 21 unsheltered people and 13 sheltered people experiencing homelessness in Dryden.
Providing community support
While the location is a small space, Ménard-Penner said it is an affordable start for the project.
“We offer basically a space with a welcoming environment with clear expectations. We offer warmth, seating, [a] washroom, snacks and also supportive staff who can connect people to existing community supports,” Ménard-Penner said.
Some of these supports include housing and income, health and wellness, life skills and employment training opportunities, according to Ménard-Penner, offered through a “very exciting” partnership with Bridges, a Dryden and area adult learning centre.
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“It’s giving people tools, right? And it’s kind of like the old saying, ‘teach somebody how to fish and they will be set for life,’ as opposed to just giving them a fish,” Ménard-Penner said.
“It’s that side of it that makes it very exciting. Now, it’s not a condition of attending the space. You don’t have to engage in programming, but the fact that it’s there and available for people to use is very positive.”
She attributed the project’s partnership with Bridges as a major factor in receiving the federal Reaching Home grant through the Kenora District Services Board.
“Our funding is for two years, so this actually will enable us to be able to hire a co-ordinator on a part-time basis … and we’re in the process right now of doing that,” Ménard-Penner said, adding that they have a strong volunteer base that will work alongside the co-ordinator.
A sign for the community drop-in centre.
The Dryden Warmth Project's drop-in space is located at 34E King St. (Submitted by Lynda Ménard-Penner)
Once a part-time person is in place, Ménard-Penner said they plan to expand their hours.
The drop-in centre will operate year-round, she said, noting the committee’s future goal of seeking partners to create an emergency overnight strategy for extreme weather events.
“We found out that no such thing exists in Dryden,” Ménard-Penner said.
To meet their goals, Ménard-Penner said they are keeping up their fundraising efforts through ongoing crowdfunding.
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“We have received a lot of support from the community in Dryden for this project, so it’s very encouraging,” Ménard-Penner said.
However, she explained that they haven’t really nailed down yet what type of donations they will need.
“Money, of course, is always a good way to contribute,” Ménard-Penner said.
“We’ve had some donations of hats and mitts and scarves and [warm] clothing, so we’re not taking clothing right now beyond this … donations are always welcome, so that we can continue to operate as long as possible.”
Ménard-Penner said that if people want to get involved, they’re always welcoming new members who want to plan with them on their committee or drop in as a volunteer. They can be reached at [email protected].
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nicky Shaw
Reporter
Nicky Shaw is a reporter for CBC Thunder Bay. She graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism and a minor in Environmental and Climate Humanities from Carleton University. Aligning with her passion for covering global environmental and humanitarian issues, she has worked to develop in-depth multimedia content that shares the diverse experiences of people in Northwestern Ontario.
