The Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation (SBOFN) in Sandy Bay, Manitoba, has extended its community warming shelter to 24‑hour operations to protect residents from life‑threatening cold. The around‑the‑clock service will remain in place through Monday, January 26, 2026.
Band leadership, led by Chief Trevor Prince and the community’s emergency response team, made the decision after Environment and Climate Change Canada issued ‘Orange’ level cold warnings for Southern Manitoba. Wind chill values are expected to feel between about −40°C and −50°C, and officials warn frostbite can occur in under 10 minutes for anyone exposed outdoors.
The Sandy Bay band office is coordinating with local security and the Manitoba First Nations Police Service (MFNPS) to keep the shelter staffed and accessible overnight; MFNPS may also assist with transportation or perform wellness checks for stranded residents. This effort follows a Jan. 25 ‘Harvest Sunday’ supply drive at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, where volunteers distributed food and winter clothing to help the community prepare for the temperature drop.
Chief Trevor Prince and the local emergency team say the measure is aimed at protecting the community’s approximately 7,500 members, particularly those who are most vulnerable. The warming shelter is operating out of the Sandy Bay Health Centre and the Community Complex; residents who need help or a warm place to go should contact the band office or the listed shelter locations for assistance.
