Also known as The Kenora Fellowship Centre, it was first opened in 1961. A new building was built in 1971 and was vacated in 1990 for four years while the mission functioned as a store-front ministry. It was during this period that the mission became known as Anamiewigummig (an Ojibway word meaning “House of Prayer”). The mission is located on the harbourfront in downtown Kenora, overlooking the Lake of the Woods.

The Fellowship Centre is a place of refuge, sanctuary and hospitality for those marginalized by poverty, addictions and alienation. It operates as a drop-in centre and works with legal, detoxification, street patrol and other essential services in the community. They offer the homeless a twenty-four hour shelter during the winter and other services as needs become apparent. They also have a regular Sunday worship and morning prayer during the week. Their goal is to continue to be the first stage of helping to provide shelter and to seek to expand the hostel role from five months in the winter to a year-round service.

A Look inside the Kenora Fellowship Centre

The summer overnight shelter has been extended for the first time for a seven-month period over the summer. Part of the long-term vision includes an eight-unit transitional housing complex added to the Centre. A further aim is to enhance cultural, educational, and employment opportunities.” This includes an Arts and Crafts Therapy group that meets twice a week and an Ojibway language class that meets once a week.

There is emergency counselling as well as mentoring by all shelter staff. Other services they offer: advocacy by senior staff, soup kitchen, clothes cupboard, mail service station, public telephone, information and referrals, chaplaincy services (jail, hospital, nursing home), legal clinic, haircuts, shower, laundry, meeting place, emergency food hamper, wakes, funerals, weddings, ecumenical worship and traditional services.

Henry Hildebrandt, Director
tel. 807-468-9063 or 807-467-8205
kenorafellowship@kmts.ca