Ark Aid Street Mission has more questions than answers
Faith-based groups have more questions than answers as they continue to fight the City of London’s recent zoning by-law infraction handed to First Baptist Church and the Ark Aid Street Mission.
As parishioners gather for service at First Baptist Church, outside the homeless sleep in tents on a rainy Sunday morning.
They use the Ark Aid Street Mission in the basement of the church on a daily basis for food and showers.
“It's despicable that anyone would consider taking things away from the homeless right now. You look at the great work that Ark Aid does feeding 300 people a day. We're in a crisis,” said London North Centre MPP Terence Kenaghan.
However a complaint by businesses in the area has prompted the city to issue a zoning by-law non-compliance order, leaving Ark Aid looking for answers.
“We basically want to understand how the definition for a place of worship does not apply to either Ark Aid street mission as a faith-based organization serving people in charitable ways. How do we not fit within the place of worship designation for zoning?” questioned Sarah Campbell of Ark Aid Street Mission.
Downtown city councillor John Fyfe Millar says it is strictly a zoning issue with a commercial tenant in -the lower level of the church.
“This is not a question about the work that Ark Aid does. We know how important it is. We know what it means to the community and we know the compassion that they bring. But if not here, let’s work together to come up with a solution,” said Fyfe-Millar.
Across the city, Rector Kevin George has started a petition looking for support, which has received hundreds of signatures. He feels administration needs to review their definition of general assembly
“They have dozens of churches booked for polling stations during the upcoming municipal election. Well, should we all look at our leases that we have with the city right now and ask if we're breaking the zoning bylaw by having a general assembly for an election on municipal election day?” said George.
While a complaint has come to the city regarding the vulnerable people living around Victoria Park, those attending the church are in full support of Ark Aid.
“This is a core part of who we are and unfortunately it sends kind of a chilling note to all faith-based organizations to sort of suggest, okay, is that are we going to be facing this kind of scenario where we've got bylaw kind of issues that we additionally have to address when, when in fact, really what I think we all want to be doing, I think all Londoners of any stripe, want to be helping out the most vulnerable in the community as best we can,” said parishioner, Gord MacDonald.
The city has given three options to Ark Aid and extended its compliance deadline to Oct. 20.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.