Photo: Castanet Staff

Monday Night Dinners at Nanaimo Square is on the move.

The volunteer group that feeds downtown Penticton’s homeless every Monday has announced it will be relocating to the Sunrise Pharmacy parking lot as of June 3.

“We have loved our time at the square, but for the safety of our guests and our volunteers we are moving,” lead organizer Kristine Shepard said on Facebook Monday.

“With the city looking at bylaws and leasing sidewalk space they have sent a clear message and so we have decided to move before we are squeezed out.”

Shepard is referring to a bylaw going before city council Tuesday that will make it illegal to sit or lie on the sidewalk on the 100-700 blocks of Main Street, 200-400 Martin Street and 100-300 Ellis Street between May 1 and Sept. 30. The city has also licensed out part of Nanaimo Square to Petrasek Bakery for a patio.

“I'm not one to back down but keeping this going is more important than my pride,” Shepard continued.

Monday Dinners have been operating for over three years, and have received pushback at times due over its location. Last year, RDOS politicians considered sending in food safety inspectors to shut the dinners down.