Corina Nolin and her husband had a big party planned for her son Maddox who turned five on May 7.
They invited all his friends and classmates to attend Maddox’s birthday party at a clubhouse at Syncrude Athletic Park, which included the always popular birthday favourite – a bouncy castle.
When wildfire swept across Fort McMurray, they had to abandon their home and their plans to celebrate the kid’s special day.
They drove to Edmonton where Nolin’s husband’s employer paid for them to stay in a hotel for five days.
“He was counting down the days for the last two weeks,” said Nolin on Facebook. “Every time I thought about his birthday I was crying because I was so sad for him not having anything now.”
They were able to gather a few of his friends who were also staying in Edmonton and celebrated Maddox’s birthday in the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel they’re staying in.
The hotel provided a birthday cake, food and a space for their improvised birthday party.
Nolin uploaded video to Facebook of Maddox’s birthday celebrations in Edmonton saying “it is time for more nice stories that are coming out of this tragedy.”