Evacuees from northern Saskatchewan finding refuge at Regina’s REAL District

Many people fleeing from wildfires in northern Saskatchewan have found refuge at an evacuation centre at Regina’s REAL District.

The centre is being run by St. John Ambulance and the Red Cross. As of Thursday, more than 100 evacuees had arrived at the district, though some have since moved to other locations.

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Lisa Schwann, director of community services with St. John Ambulance, said the organization is doing everything it can to accommodate the evacuees.

“Some were pretty sick coming in and totally exhausted, as you can imagine coming in from the north,” Schwann said.

“Anything we could do to put smile on their face – whether it’s playing cards with them, therapy dog, support dog, dealing with the injuries that they have – that’s really important.”

Schwann said the evacuation centre is also receiving support from search and rescue organizations and the Saskatchewan Health Authority, which has set up an on-site wellness bus to tend to medical needs.

The centre has accommodated people from La Ronge and Stanley Mission, which have both been evacuated due to the fires.

“People have been feeling confused, exhausted and upset because they’ve lost everything or had to leave their homes or their pets behind, and they just want someone to listen or a place to sit down that’s not a bus,” Schwann said.

“They want to know what is their future, and unfortunately we don’t know that so we just try to make them comfortable while they’re here.”

Schwann said the centre has been trying to get items like playing cards, N95 masks and colouring books for kids.

Schwann highlighted the efforts of St. John and other agencies not just in Regina, but across the province.

“We’re on site in Prince Albert (with) therapy dog support. Our Yorkton unit chief has people camping in her yard. We have people in Esterhazy that are monitoring and helping out too, and in Saskatoon we have a big evacuation center,” she said. “We’re kind of all over the place, not just in Regina.”

Schwann praised the efforts of everyone working together for a common good.

“It just shows you what a wonderful province we live in when we can all work together,” she said. “Doesn’t matter what agency you are – we’ll all work together to support our communities.”