Saskatoon’s Cosmo Civic Centre being used by Red Cross for wildfire evacuees

Saskatoon’s Cosmo Civic Centre in Confederation Suburban Centre will be used to house people evacuated from the wildfires burning in northern Saskatchewan.

The centre and arena has been closed to the public, including all programming, rentals and transit ticket sales. The Carlyle King Branch Library will remain open, the City of Saskatoon said in a news release on May 27.

Read more:

Shocking increase in number of homeless children in Saskatoon, report reveals
SPSA resources stretched thin, firefighters forced to evacuate as Camp and Shoe fires merge
Residents hoping to save cabins fighting wildfires themselves; Candle Lake asks for SPSA support

The city said in the release it was approached by the Canadian Red Cross to the centre as a designated temporary evacuation site until it is safe for the residents to return to their homes. All costs associated with hosting the evacuees will be billed to the Canadian Red Cross, it added.

The Red Cross is managing the evacuations and has assessed other locations in Saskatoon that can accommodate large numbers, but the city said no other suitable facilities were currently available.

The city said the centre, situated at 3130 Laurier Drive, was chosen due to its size and amenities, ability to be quickly converted for emergency use, proximity to services such as retail and food, and access to transit. It was also considered “the least disruptive to the city’s overall recreational programming.”

The city said the closure will remain in place for at least a couple of weeks.

Lac La Ronge Indian Band said on its website on May 27 that a total of 384 community members had been safely evacuated from the Pisew fire and accommodated primarily in Saskatoon and Regina.

The band said that evacuees initially placed at the University of Regina residence are being relocated to hotels.

The Pisew fire that began on May 21 was still not contained on Monday, with 25,693.0 hectares burned.

Read more: