Some evacuees headed home as Ontario weather improves

As the winds and weather change in northern Ontario, some of the evacuees from the Pikangikum First Nation who are in Regina are headed home.

“The fire activity there is really diminished (and) they received significant rainfall in that area over the last day or so,” Duane McKay, vice-president of operations for Saskatchewan’s public safety agency, said during a conference call Wednesday.

“That is an extension of the weather systems we saw here in the province a couple of days ago. (It’s) now arriving into northwestern Ontario.”

There hasn’t been a repatriation order made, but on Tuesday evening, about 35 people flew back to their home community. Three or four similarly filled flights were planned for Wednesday.

“(We’ve been) working closely with the local leadership in Ontario, but also with staff that they have sent out here who know the community, know the families, and they’re identifying people that would be better supported (and) better served there,” said McKay, though he couldn’t explain what exactly that entailed.

Saskatchewan has been planning for the eventual return of the evacuees, so McKay said this suits that group fine.

“I think everybody’s very anxious to get home,” he said.

Between 200 and 300 evacuees will still be staying at the University of Regina through the end of day on Wednesday, so there are activities planned for the next few days for them, including sports, meals, and a powwow Wednesday night.