At least 500 former Fort McMurray residents arrived in Calgary Friday with thousands more on the way.
The evacuees are staying at temporary accommodations set up in residences at SAIT, the University of Calgary and Ambrose University.
Volunteers were on hand at the airport and at various temporary shelters to greet people and to help them get set up.
These same volunteers have offered housing accommodations, as well as rides to the evacuees to help them get set up in their temporary homes.
The underlying message from the evacuees Global News spoke with, was one of gratitude.
“We feel loved,” Michele said.
“Despite having lost what we may have lost, we have a second chance.”
The City of Calgary announced Friday they are planning on taking in 3,000 evacuees from Fort McMurray.
With files from Jill Croteau