City and Lloydminster & Vermilion for Equity Foundation extend Warming Van partnership for 2025–26 winter

Lloydminster, AB/SK – The City of Lloydminster and the Lloydminster & Vermilion for Equity Foundation (LVE) are partnering to continue the Warming Van project for the 2025/2026 winter season.

The Warming Van will:

• Activate when temperatures drop to -30 degrees Celsius with windchill.
• Operate between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. This is an increase from last winter’s schedule of 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
• Be staffed with a driver, security, and representative from Lloydminster & Vermilion for Equity.

Residents seeking more information about the Warming Van program can contact 639-840-3833.

Those wishing to volunteer or donate to support Lloydminster & Vermilion for Equity’s ongoing work can do so by visiting lvefoundation.com/donating-to-lve-foundation or emailing lloydminstervermilionforequity@gmail.com

“Over the last five years, we at Lloydminster & Vermilion for Equity Foundation have served the unhoused and vulnerable population of Lloydminster,” said Tigra-Lee Campbell. “Due to the trust that we have built and our own lived and living experiences, we have a grounded understanding of the needs and challenges faced by people struggling to keep warm. Our empathy, experience, and diversity in our perspectives fuel our desire to coordinate this initiative.“ 

“Lloydminster & Vermilion for Equity has supported vulnerable residents in our community for the past five years,” said Mayor Gerald Aalbers of the City of Lloydminster. “Through their ongoing work and connection with residents, they bring valuable insight and understanding to this initiative.”

Background
In 2024, the City of Lloydminster conducted a Point-in-Time (PiT) homelessness count, which identified at least 60 individuals residing in the community as unsheltered. People who are unsheltered may sleep in vehicles, encampments, abandoned properties, or public spaces, and are particularly vulnerable to extreme weather.

Several local non-profit organizations provide essential services to unhoused residents but often face barriers such as limited funding and difficulty securing suitable shelter locations.

On December 16, 2024, City Council approved $99,950 in funding for the implementation of a Warming Van project, which operated from January 1 to March 31, 2025, in partnership with Lloydminster & Vermilion for Equity.

The Mobile Warming Shelter was activated 28 times between January 2 and March 15, serving an average of 27 individuals per night. The longest consecutive activation period was from February 1 to 19. No weather-related casualties were reported during the program’s operation.

The total cost for the 28 activations was $61,924, utilizing 62 per cent of the approved budget, with $37,325 remaining.