Attawapiskat Residents Celebrate Christmas Parade

ATTAWAPISKAT – News – Attawapiskat enjoyed the community Christmas Parade on Saturday. “It was cold, cold…but the spirit of the community was good!” The parade came as the entire community was coming together following the State of Emergency called in November.

Community Members Return after Evacuation

On Monday, December 17, 2013, a repatriation flight organized by the Ontario Emergency Operations Centre returned thirty community members who were recently evacuated in late November due to a fire that damaged a portion of the East End Trailers in Attawapiskat.  A total of sixty-five affected members of the community were evacuated due a fire that occurred at the East End Shelter Complex in Attawapiskat in the early hours of the morning of November 21, 2013. Since November 22, 2013, these evacuated residents were hosted by the Town of Kapuskasing while repairs were made to the fire damaged complex.

The restoration efforts of a Timmins based property restoration company will be complete on Wednesday, allowing the remaining 33 residents to return on Friday.

Chief Theresa Spence commented “It is wonderful to have our community whole again, the past month has been challenging, but we are happy that everyone will be home for Christmas.” Chief Spence further added that “The community is also thankful to the volunteers, the people of Kapuskasing who have provided assistance for the past month, and to those throughout Canada that have donated items at this time of need.”

There were floats, fun, a dinner and a time for the community to come together.

Cold temperatures in Attawapiskat couldn’t dim the fun and enthusiasm of community members.

Northern communities face long winter nights, with short days with a spirit of fun. While many times Attawapiskat makes the news over a crisis in the community, the truth is simple, people in Attawapiskat are just like the rest of us in many ways. They have fun, care for their community, and are sharing the fun.