Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paid a visit to the wildfire evacuees from the Northwest Territories (N.W.T.) who are currently being hosted at the Edmonton Expo Centre on Friday. Although the event was closed to media, the Prime Minister did provide a brief statement to reporters following his visit.
Trudeau expressed the strong sense of community he witnessed among the evacuees, despite their concerns about their homes and the community in Yellowknife. He acknowledged that this summer has been marked by unprecedented wildfires and flooding across Canada. He extended his gratitude to Canadians for their generosity in opening their homes and hearts to evacuees.
He also took a moment to address the wildfire situation in Kelowna, where evacuation orders are in effect, emphasizing the speed at which wildfires can spread. Trudeau urged people to follow the recommendations of public safety and public health authorities to stay safe. He assured that the federal government is closely coordinating with the province of British Columbia and is ready to provide additional resources if necessary.
The evacuation reception center in Edmonton opened at noon on Friday, offering immediate assistance such as lodging, food, clothing, healthcare, and pet care to those in need, primarily residents of Yellowknife, N.W.T. By 4 p.m. on Friday, the center had registered 974 residents and 60 pets, with more people still waiting in line to register.
In addition to providing support to evacuees, the City of Edmonton has committed to sending firefighters and equipment from Edmonton Fire Rescue Services to Yellowknife to assist with firefighting efforts.
Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories, is home to approximately 22,000 residents, representing about 40 percent of the territory’s population. On Wednesday, residents were instructed to evacuate as quickly as possible, with the deadline for departure set at noon on Friday. The military had been assisting in evacuating remaining individuals, including long-term care residents, from Yellowknife.
The Northwest Territories had 236 active fires at the time, with the nearest flames to Yellowknife approximately 16 kilometers away. To support firefighting and evacuation efforts, about 150 members of the Canadian Armed Forces, including 120 soldiers and 30 aviators, were deployed to the area along with Hercules, Globemaster, and Polaris aircraft.
Numerous Alberta cities, including Calgary, Red Deer, Leduc, and St. Albert, have provided assistance to evacuees from Yellowknife and the Fort Smith region near the Alberta boundary.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was also scheduled to meet with officials at a different wildfire emergency response center in Alberta’s Peace Country region on the same day as the Prime Minister’s visit to Edmonton.