Citizens Supporting the Harbor Inn Shelter

For years River City Vineyard (RCV) has been operating a homeless shelter in the city of Sarnia. This shelter has been serving members of our community in need without any funding provided by the city.

RCV was granted zoning for the current site housing the shelter on a temporary basis (2006). In 2011, the city council decided to revoke this zoning status due to complaints made by several citizens who thought the shelter was a blemish on the community surrounding it.

RCV contends that its existence and location of operation are supported by the citizens of Sarnia. Moreover, RCV holds legal rights and protection under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to operate an emergency shelter for the citizens of the city.

We recognize that the RCV is legally entitled to offer shelter to people experiencing homelessness as an act of worship in a place of worship. Further, we recognize that the City of Sarnia would be violating the constitutionally granted religious rights and freedoms of the members of the RCV if it took further action to prevent the RCV from offering shelter to people experiencing homelessness.



In signing this petition, you:

· support keeping the The Harbor Inn Shelter open to serve the population of Sarnia

· support the existence of a homeless shelter located centrally in Sarnia

· approve the current site of the homeless shelter being operated by RCV, protecting itself under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, expressing itself as a place of worship.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Please read this press release from RCV

http://rcv.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=138:omb-press-release&catid=14:sample-data-articles

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Note: This petition is not officially endorsed by RCV, it is merely the work of a few citizens who want to support the Harbor Inn Shelter + Recognize the value of the work they are doing as well as their legal right to continue doing so.

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Thank you!