THUNDER BAY — After several days of delays, the City of Thunder Bay has been asked to host evacuees from Kashechwan First Nation because of ongoing issues with the community’s water treatment plant.
About 200 people have been identified for the evacuation.
An evacuation was initially called for last week, but was subsequently put on hold.
The first evacuees are expected to arrive on Thursday, with two more flights scheduled for Friday and the remainder arriving over the weekend.
City officials said they expect the Kashechewan residents will remain in Thunder Bay for up to two weeks, extending through the holiday season. The exact timeline is dependent on the time required for infrastructure repairs to the plant in Kashechewan.
“We are happy to extend our support and solidarity to the Kashechewan community during this challenging time,” said Mayor Ken Boshcoff. “Thunder Bay is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for those that have to be evacuated and will work closely with all partners to ensure their needs are met.”
