The City of Peterborough is one of the communities hosting evacuees from Sandy Lake First Nation in northwestern Ontario.
The remote Oji-Cree community, which is located near the Manitoba border around 370 kilometres north of Kenora, is being threatened by the fire known as Red Lake 12, which is out of control and has grown to be more than 1,500 square kilometres in size.
An evacuation of the community of around 3,000 residents was ordered on Saturday (June 7). The Canadian Armed Forces has been assisting in the evacuation of Sandy Lake, which is only accessible by air, by flying residents out of the community in CC-130 Hercules aircraft to Thunder Bay.
Around 300 Sandy Lake community members will be arriving in Peterborough. A media release from the City of Peterborough on Wednesday (June 11) states that around 200 evacuees arrived Tuesday evening, with additional evacuees arriving in the coming days.
On Sunday, the federal government approved a request from the Ontario government for federal assistance to support the evacuation efforts. According to a statement on Monday from Ontario’s emergency preparedness and response minister Jill Dunlop, all evacuees will be provided comprehensive wraparound services, including health care, education supports, and social services.
“Our government will continue to work in coordination with the federal government, Indigenous leadership, and the Canadian Armed Forces to ensure safe evacuations for the residents of Sandy Lake First Nation,” Dunlop said.
Dunlop said most of the evacuees are being hosted in Kapuskasing, Mississauga, Toronto, Niagara, and Cornwall — and now Peterborough as well.
“When Peterborough was asked if it would be a host community for evacuees from areas that are threatened by the wildfires that are raging, there was no hesitation in opening the doors to our community,” Mayor Jeff Leaf said.
“Our community is quickly mobilizing to support those in need who are being forced to leave their homes because of the wildfires. Thank you to the numerous community agencies that are showing compassion and commitment to the well-being of the evacuees.”
The city says The Loomex Group is the official host agency contracted by the provincial government to coordinate the hosting of the evacuees. As well as operating the Peterborough Airport, The Loomex Group also provides emergency management services.
“The City of Peterborough’s Emergency Management Division will work with Loomex to coordinate and facilitate support services with community partner agencies,” the media release states.
The release adds that the city and Loomex are not currently accepting donations or seeking volunteer assistance at this time.
However, Indigenous community member Kelli Marshall says donations are needed and has put out a call on Facebook for towels, linens, and blankets as well as baby formula, diapers, and clothes. In a comment on Marshall’s post, Ashley Lamothe says evacuees have requested water bottles, socks, shorts, T-shirts of all sizes, sandals, and colouring books and materials.
Marshall, who says the evacuees are being hosted at Trent University, is asking that donations be dropped off at The Gathering Space at Gzowski College at 2510 Pioneer Road or at the Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre at 580 Cameron Street.
On its Facebook page, Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre says it will accept diapers and pull-ups, baby formula and bottles, women’s feminine pads/tampons, both women and men’s disposable razors, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, body wash, loofah, and men’s and women’s deodorant.
Those wishing to make a financial donation can do so online at canadahelps.org/en/charities/nogojiwanong-friendship-centre/ (add a message that the donation is for Sandy Lake First Nation) or by dropping off cash or a cheque at the centre (ask reception to write SLFN on the receipt).
According to a statement from Trent University provided to kawarthaNOW on Thursday (June 12), donations are no longer being collected at Gzowski College.
“Trent is working closely with the City and The Loomex Group to support evacuees from Sandy Lake First Nation,” the statement reads. “At this time, donations and volunteer help aren’t needed and donations are no longer being collected at the First Peoples House of Learning. Loomex is coordinating all supports, and all inquiries can be directed to The Group.”
To contact The Loomex Group, email info@loomex.ca.
This story has been updated with a statement from Trent University.
