THUNDER BAY — About 300 people from Kashechewan First Nation are set to arrive in Thunder Bay as the evacuation of the flood-threatened community continues.
City officials on Thursday confirmed that the province has issued a request for Thunder Bay to be one of several host communities across the region. The first evacuees were set to arrive in the city early Thursday afternoon.
"It’s about neighbours helping neighbours," said city manager Norm Gale. "People are being uprooted from their homes with uncertain prospects, and what we want to do is give them, while they’re under duress, a positive experience in the city of Thunder Bay."
"We think that’s important, so we put a lot of things behind this."
Evacuees will be hosted in local hotels and provided with food, cultural services, children’s activities, and health care.
The local response is coordinated by the Municipal Emergency Control Group, which includes representation from the Canadian Red Cross, Indigenous Services Canada, Fort William First Nation, ISN/Waskwa, Ontario Health North, and Emergency Management Ontario.
A full cost-recovery agreement between Indigenous Services Canada and the city is in place, officials added.
Gale called the 300 evacuees a significant number, but noted the city has previously accommodated over 1,000 evacuees at one time.
He said it would not be unusual for the city to host more refugees during the spring flooding season and into the summer.
“Certainly it would not be unexpectd,” he said. “In particular, when you look at the effects of climate change when it comes to flooding – earlier flooding, more flooding, flooding in different areas, forest fires – I think generally it’s probably safe to predict that there will be more evacuations in the coming years.”
