Yellowknife’s return plan calls for residents to return September 6
Residents of Yellowknife won’t have to wait much longer to return to the territorial capital which was evacuated more than two weeks ago due to wildfires threatening the city.
On Friday, the City of Yellowknife and the Yellowknives Dene First Nation announced that re-entry dates have been set.
Essential staff at critical services like health care, utilities, transportation and grocery stores were contacted on Tuesday about a return to reopening those services.
That work was halted Wednesday due to accelerating fires along Highway 1. Essential medical personnel were airlifted to the city.
Most essential workers will be returning on September 4-5 due to highway conditions.
The general public, meanwhile, will be able to go home on September 6 at noon.
The capital of the Northwest Territories noted that these dates are subject to change as conditions change.
More than 20,000 Yellowknife residents had hours to flee the city in mid-August, heading to other Canadian cities and towns.
Yellowknife Mayor Rebecca Alty and Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek released a joint statement asking for provincial and federal government support for reinstatement.
“For residents of Yellowknife to Calgary, we are now calling on the Government of the Northwest Territories to provide the social workers and supports that will facilitate a better transition at this critical time,” the statement said. “For Calgary evacuees, seeing a familiar and supportive face will make all the difference. »
As of August 29, 3,517 evacuees have registered with Calgary authorities, including 363 seniors or seniors and 776 children.
Since August 18, nearly 7,300 evacuees have checked into the Edmonton Emergency Reception Center and more than 4,300 people have been placed in Edmonton hotels. This is more than double what was originally expected.
About 3,000 evacuees were expected in the Manitoba cities of Portage la Prairie, Brandon and Winnipeg.
“At the same time, we call on the governments of Alberta and the Northwest Territories to call for additional resources to support trauma and crisis management efforts that municipalities cannot deliver on their own,” the mayors said. .
“By asking the federal government to coordinate the provision of resources through other provinces and agencies, we can immediately build a stronger network of support in our cities.
“In serious situations like this, we sincerely hope that all levels of government and service organizations can align to meet the needs of those surviving a crisis.
The state of emergency in the Northwest Territories has been extended until 9/11.
— with files from Nicole Buffie, PKBNEWS and The Canadian Press
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