Evacuees from N.W.T begin coming to Edmonton
Posted August 18, 2023 4:50 pm.
Last Updated August 23, 2023 1:05 pm.
The City of Edmonton is providing beds food and temporary shelter for evacuees from Yellowknife at the Edmonton Expo Centre, pulling together last minute to help those fleeing their homes.
For those arriving Friday, it’s relief after more than 20 hours of driving from Yellowknife.
“Finally when we were down in Alberta, that’s when some tears started coming down my cheeks as I was driving … and then yeah, I just said, ‘okay I have to be strong for my family and my community,'” said Valerie Conrad through tears.
With over half the population of the Northwest Territories evacuating to Alberta, centres are being spread out. There are already shelters in Grand Prairie, St. Albert and Leduc, which are considered full.
RELATED:
- Some Yellowknife evacuees arrive at Edmonton’s airport, while others slam airlines for alleged price increase
- Thousands of people fleeing by air and land out of Yellowknife
- Northwest Territories evacuees arriving in St. Albert
“We’re planning on setting up about 300, not knowing the numbers that are coming down but for the time being we’re setting up 300 and we have the capacity to set up over 3,500,” said Gerry Clarke, with the City of Edmonton Emergency Response Team.
That’s the number of cots the City of Edmonton has on hand to help temporarily shelter evacuees from the Northwest Territories as they get set up with accommodations in nearby hotels.
WATCH: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets Northwest Territories wildfire evacuees in Edmonton
Organizers saying emergency response teams here are still recovering from helping wildfire evacuees from Drayton Valley and Edson earlier this summer. And that’s why it took longer for Edmonton to become a host city.
“We didn’t really have a suitable venue, because the Expo is going under a lot of renovations right now. The powers that have to be arranged in the last couple of days. There’s been a lot of work done on the back burner.”
For those seeking refuge in Edmonton, like Conrad, it’ relief to be safe, while waiting for news.
“Like we’re climate refugees here. There this great sense of uncertainty — where are we going to go. But hey man, we’re in Canada and I knew we were going to be safe. No matter where we go. And if we had to travel to Calgary, so be it — we’re safe,” said Conrad.
Alberta has set up a phone line for any evacuees who end up in our province — 780-310-4455 — it will serve as a way to connect with services available.
