The City of Thunder Bay is continuing to assist northern First Nation communities during this severe fire emergency as crews battle as many as 112 wildfires across the North. The City are currently planning a whole bunch of fun free events for all of the evacuees and their families. The goal is to find something to keep people occupied and to help take their minds off the stresses of what is happening to them, and their communities back home.
What is needed is a call-out to all of the community to step up and welcome, and help these people.
“The fire situation and the danger it poses is highly variable,” said Chief John Hay, Fire Rescue. “While the evacuation phase may be winding down, the challenge of getting everyone home once the danger subsides will be equally difficult. It is not certain how long this state of emergency will last.”
Just over 2,300 men, women and children have been moved through Thunder Bay to other host communities across Ontario. Staff from local agencies and the City of Thunder Bay have been working diligently to try and provide a welcoming and supportive environment for all of the evacuees. Confederation College has also opened the doors to its Aviation Centre of Excellence to provide evacuees with a place to register when they arrive.
The Salvation Army are holding sandwich making sessions to help feed the families and any help would be greatly appreciated.
Tina Reed shares, “I am donating a ton of board games/puzzles and books to the youth that have been evacuated from the fires up North and are at the Victoria Inn. There will be a drop off table today, Friday, at the Victoria Inn at 5 pm. Does anyone have anything they could donate to help pass the time for them? – Please reach out and show your love!”
The Regional MultiCultural Youth Centre, along with young people from the 31@ Junot Centre supported by Eat Local Pizza and Pastry, NetNewsledger.com, and several other local good Samaritans are hosting a barbecue this evening at the Victoria Inn for the people from Sandy Lake. Eat Local Pizza is supplying pizza, which is made from all local sourced ingredients. It is an amazing treat.
Owner Jim Stadey believes that it is important for our community and our businesses to step up to help. “This is the right thing to do,” shared Stadey.
“This has been a very difficult time for the residents of these communities, and their patience and spirit has been inspiring,” said Mayor Keith Hobbs.
“The many volunteers from our community have been truly outstanding in their efforts to help our northern neighbours. This has been an unparalleled response to a true humanitarian crisis, and Thunder Bay has stepped up to the plate.”
