“It’s our honour, it’s our pride to be able to look after you while you were here,” Mayor Naheed Nenshi said to Fort McMurray evacuees staying at the University of Calgary reception centre Sunday.
Mayor Nenshi provided a brief update on the status of evacuees that have come to Calgary, as well as the city crews that are helping out and working in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.
The Fort McMurray wildfire covered more than 200,000 hectares Sunday and the province anticipated it will continue to grow. It spurred an Alberta-wide state of emergency Wednesday, after more than 80,000 people evacuated the area.
“I’m a pretty bad host, because I want you to go home soon,” Mayor Nenshi said. ‘A special happy Mother’s Day to a brand-new mom and I understand that one of our evacuees gave birth to a healthy baby boy last night here in Calgary and mother and son are doing very well.”
The city is offering their 13 pools and leisure centres for all evacuees and their families, free of charge.
For the latest stories on the Fort McMurray wildfire, click here
“I know partners from across the city are doing the same, including the Calgary Zoo and Telus Spark Science Centre were also offering free admission now and for the foreseeable future,” Nenshi said. “Take advantage of it, there’s been a lot of stress – go for a swim, take the kids to see the baby gorilla.”
Sunday, Calgary welcomed nearly 1500 Fort McMurray residents who are registered at reception centers. But in disasters like this, it’s typical to see only five per cent of evacuees stay at emergency shelters.
“Many have opened their homes to friends and family, please continue to do that because as wonderful as this reception centre is, it’s not as great as being home,” Mayor Nenshi said.
Evacuee Stephanie Barter and her family spent Mother’s Day at the U of C’s reception centre.
“I feel a little at home, flowers and cards for all the moms,’ Barter said.
Barter found out Saturday that her family’s home was destroyed.
“We saw a picture of our condominium burned to the ground,” Barter said.
Barter and her family moved to Fort McMurray in 2012 from Newfoundland. Barter and her husband Mike still remain positive despite the loss of their home.
“We are part of the lucky few. I have a sister here in town. We are trying to make it as normal as we can for her (daughter Layla).We keep saying we’re on a vacation,” said Barter.
READ MORE: Where Fort McMurray fire evacuees can get help and information
Nenshi encouraged Calgarians to talk to their family about having an emergency plan and to create a 72-hour emergency kit. Most of the residents who fled Fort McMurray, had just minutes to grab personal belongings from their home.
The head of Calgary’s Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) Tom Sampson also stressed how important it is to have a family plan.
“If you are burned from your home, do your kids know where to go? Do they know who to call if you can’t call home? Those kinds of things are all available at Calgary.ca/CEMA,” Sampson said.
The doors of Mount Royal University were opened Sunday. Ambrose University College and SAIT are at capacity.
READ MORE: Fort McMurray wildfire response now in ‘Phase 2’: officials
As for up north, CEMA is struggling to find places for people stay in the surrounding areas of Fort McMurray.
“As a result, you’re seeing people leave the communities and they’re coming south and you will see that migration continue to occur,’ Sampson said.
CEMA continues to send help from Calgary to Fort McMurray, including members of the Calgary Fire Department, transit, communications, social services and water services.
“We have 60 people on the ground in our emergency management centre up there right now. With another 100 going tomorrow morning,” said Sampson. “Last night, we got a number of firefighters home but shipped up another 39 firefighters who are using full apparatus’ and gear up there fighting urban fires.”
With files from Carolyn Kury de Castillo
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