A lone runner has been skirting the shoulders of Highway 16 during the month of August. Kagan Kneen is the executive director of the Lloydminster Men’s Shelter. He is on a mission to raise funds and raise awareness for his organization and facility that supports men 18 years of age and older to get back on their feet and find life changing skills and employment.
“I'm running to expand our shelter because right now we only have 28 beds, so we can serve 28 males that are 18 or older,” Kneen explains. “But we actually serve about 250 clients a month and that's men, women, youth food, clothing, shower services, outreach services. So, there's a significant demand for an increased service I'm running to expand our shelter because right now we only have 28 beds, so we can serve 28 males that are 18 or older. But we actually serve about 250 clients a month and that's men, women, youth. So, there's a significant demand for an increased service and shelter spaces.”
The hope is to raise enough for a down payment on a facility that would allow for increased beds, a housing shelter for women, and space for wrap around services that go beyond the emergency nature of the shelter right now. Some of those supports would be around addictions. Ultimately, the idea is to have client transition to permanent housing solutions.
The shelter works with a variety of agencies in Lloydminster and area, and in both provinces, to provide the services needed for their clients.
The shelter is the only one of its kind between Edmonton and Saskatoon on the Yellowhead Highway. Consequently, Kneen says they serve clients from the entire region. In fact, some larger city clients who are underserved are leaving their locations and trekking to Lloydminster.
The majority of its funding currently comes from the Saskatchewan and Alberta provincial governments. That’s why Kneen’s run, dubbed “Running for Shelter” goes from the western Alberta border with BC to the eastern Saskatchewan border with Manitoba.
“We were originally supposed to start at Decoigne right on the Alberta – BC border just west of Jasper, but with the fires, we had to reroute to almost 100 km north of Hinton. I really wanted to get more engagement with the city of Lloydminster and different businesses while running through the two provinces, creating awareness for what all shelter services are providing in all of the different communities.”
Kneen toured shelters in Edmonton on his run but was unable to make a stop at the shelter in Saskatoon due to logistics. He is hoping to tour a shelter in Yorkton once he nears the end of his journey slated for August 26.
Undertaking a run of this magnitude means commitment and determination. It also comes with an understanding of the rigours involved, and for Kagan, that stems from a background in distance running.
“I do a lot of marathons and half-marathons. I’ve always been a big runner since high school.”
He has a long history with running, but a short time in the world of the non-profit sector. Kneen was brought on by the shelter's board with the mission to generate revenue and outreach with community relations. The run accomplishes both in terms of creating a profile for a cause that Kneen is clearly passionate about while generating funds for the capital project.
We caught up with Kagan at a pit stop in Colonsay as he makes his way through the area over the next couple of days. Averaging 50-60 km per day, Kneen is making solid progress on his trek and on his goal.
You can find out more about the Lloydminster Men’s Shelter and make donations on their website. And when you see Kagan, drive with caution and give a wave.
“Honking the horn encourages me as well – it lets me know I’m being seen.”