Thunder Bay students reflect on trip to the Netherlands for the 80th anniversary of its liberation
Earlier this month, several events took place across the Netherlands to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the country's liberation and the end of the Second World War in Europe. Students from Superior Collegiate and Vocational Institute in Thunder Bay, Ont., had the opportunity to MC one of the events there. They joined the CBC's Mary-Jean Cormier in studio to talk about how their generation aims to keep this history alive.
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CBC
10 hours ago
- CBC
Patience, kindness key to aiding wildfire evacuees from Sandy Lake First Nation
Social Sharing Support workers at the evacuation hub in Thunder Bay, Ont., have been working non-stop to make sure wildfire evacuees from Sandy Lake First Nation have what they need. The Canadian Armed Forces were called in on Sunday to assist with evacuation efforts in the remote Oji-Cree community, located in Treaty 5 territory about 600 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay. Since then, hundreds of people have been transported to Thunder Bay on Hercules aircraft. As soon as people land at the Thunder Bay International Airport, members of Sandy Lake's band rep program have been ushering them to an evacuation hub set up inside, where they can access food, water and essential supplies they may not have been able to bring with them. While provincial and federal partners have also provided on the ground support, community members themselves have been leading the way in taking care of each other. "People are concerned about their pets, they're concerned about the loved ones that wanted to stay in community … and they're concerned about losing their luggage. They're concerned about having everything they need," said Jennifer Kakegamic, an All My Relations prevention worker with the band rep program. Evacuation efforts underway as wildfire burns near Sandy Lake First Nation 5 hours ago Duration 3:40 Canada's military is assisting in efforts to get vulnerable people out of Sandy Lake First Nation in northwestern Ontario as a large wildfire burns in the area. "There's people that are up north that are on suboxone programs as well that are really concerned about their prescriptions carrying forward, so we're trying to get all that arranged for them." Evacuees have been staying in hotels or dorm rooms at Lakehead University for a night or two before being sent to one of three host communities: Kapuskasing, Cornwall or Mississauga. "Lakehead University is acting as a host, welcoming evacuees into our residences so they have safe shelter during their travels and providing some fun, supportive activities for the children, such as arts and crafts and sports," Lakehead University said in an emailed statement to CBC News on Tuesday. "Currently, Lakehead has welcomed 530 evacuees, with more than 200 people expected to arrive still. Lakehead University is grateful that we can open our doors, acting as a good neighbour during this terribly difficult time, and we wish the evacuees safe travels as they move through this tragic situation." Sandy Lake's evacuation was prompted by Red Lake 12, the largest wildfire in northwestern Ontario at more than 156,000 hectares. However, recent rainfall, cooler temperatures and gentler winds have stunted the fire's growth since Sunday, offering some reprieve to firerangers on the front lines. "Everyone's frustrated. Nobody's knowing where they're going, how long they're going to be gone," Kakegamic said. "Everyone's just learning to be patient, learning to be kind to one another." Elsewhere in the region, evacuations are continuing for a number of other First Nations: Evacuees from Deer Lake First Nation are staying in Toronto due to Red Lake 12. Evacuees from Webequie First Nation are in Barrie due to the Nipigon 5 wildfire. North Spirit Lake First Nation and Keewaywin First Nations have called for community evacuations; CBC News is awaiting more information about where community members will be sent. Members of Wabaseemoong Independent Nations were staying in Niagara Falls from mid-May to early June due to wildfire Kenora 20, but were cleared to return home on Friday. A spokesperson for Ontario's ministry of emergency preparedness and response provided an emailed statement to CBC News on Monday. "Our government will continue to work in co-ordination with the federal government, Indigenous leadership, and the Canadian Armed Forces to ensure safe evacuations for the residents of Sandy Lake First Nation," said Joseph D'Angelo. "All evacuees will be provided comprehensive wraparound services including healthcare, education supports and social services. Thank you to Kapuskasing, Mississauga and Cornwall for opening up their communities to host and support evacuees. We will continue to work around the clock to ensure all residents impacted by these devastating wildfires are safe and supported." Impact on people's mental health Vincent Agyapong is head of the psychiatry department at Dalhousie University's faculty of medicine. He endured the Fort McMurray evacuation in 2016, when a wildfire known as "The Beast" forced 80,000 people to flee their homes. "They just left from work and just came out there with absolutely nothing," Agyapong recalled of the six-hour drive evacuees made to safety at an oilsands camp. "The stress was very palpable." Wildfire evacuations can create a range of emotions for those affected, he said, from anger to frustration to an overwhelming sense of panic. "There's a lot of uncertainty about, really, what the future holds for themselves and for their community," Agyapong said. As he empathizes with wildfire evacuees in northwestern Ontario, Agyapong said it's important for them to take care of their mental well-being. "It's important that people avoid [the] use of drugs and alcohol in particular when they are going through a traumatic situation. Usually they indulge more and more, and it only worsens their psychological well-being," he said. Studies have also shown the positive impact that exercise, a balanced diet and social connections have on people's mental health. Random acts of kindness also go a long way, he added. As of Tuesday morning, a few more Hercules planes were expected to depart from Sandy Lake for Phase 1 of the evacuation. Sandy Lake evacuees have been repeating a motto at the evacuation hub in Thunder Bay: "don't panic, eat bannock."
CTV News
17 hours ago
- CTV News
Alberta elementary school ditches library and other rooms because of ‘significant growth'
Rocky View Schools says several of its schools, such as Airdrie's École Edwards Elementary, are making changes due to 'significant growth' without provincial support. (File/Google Maps) Parents of a southern Alberta elementary school are being informed of some big changes that could affect their students' learning in the fall. Administration at École Edwards Elementary in Airdrie, Alta., says the school will be adding a grade in September as the institution shifts from a K-5 to a K-6 school. Enrollment will jump from 675 students to approximately 850, according to a letter sent to families on Monday. To accommodate these students, administration said the school's library, music room and wellness centre will all be converted into classroom space. In addition, École Edwards says it will adopt a 'team-teaching' model for some grades, where multiple teachers will teach students in the larger spaces. Administrators said a request to the province was made for modular classrooms but 'was not approved.' 'Nooks and shared spaces' Staff said library books will be moved to different locations throughout the school: five classroom libraries will be created in the new Grade 6 classrooms; a smaller collection of books will be provided to K-3 students; and additional books will be distributed in 'nooks and shared spaces.' 'These changes allow us to meet the instructional needs of our students within our existing footprint, while continuing to prioritize access to quality resources and enriching learning environments,' administrators wrote in the letter. 'Had to be creative' Rocky View Schools (RVS), the board that operates École Edwards, says the changes at the facility are due to an influx of students in the district. A spokesperson for RVS said the board has been trying to make do with available resources. 'RVS has been experiencing significant growth for years without new schools or enough modular classrooms to keep pace,' Tara de Weerd, RVS communications director, said in an email to CTV News Tuesday. 'The government recently approved new schools but with the three to four years it takes to build a school and only five modular classrooms approved this year, schools have had to be creative about balancing space within their schools maximizing every single room.' de Weerd says other schools in the district have had to make similar moves to École Edwards. 'I can assure you our administrators do an excellent job of continuing to prioritize literacy, wellness and other important aspects of student learning,' she said. Meanwhile, École Edwards says classrooms will be packing up and moving to the new spaces throughout June. 'We recognize that change can bring many emotions. Our focus is to ensure all students feel supported, valued and excited about their learning experience at École Edwards,' officials said. CTV News has reached out to Alberta Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides' office about these changes.
CBC
20 hours ago
- CBC
Sandy Lake First Nation evacuations continue as major wildfire burns nearby
Hundreds of members of Sandy Lake First Nation have left the remote Oji-Cree community as a major wildfire burns nearby. The evacuation was ordered on Saturday due to the fire known as Red Lake 12. As of Monday, the fire was more than 156,000 hectares in size and not under control. "We're all scared that our community might burn down," said Sandy Lake member Dakota Fiddler during a stopover at the Thunder Bay airport. "I'm scared too, because I have family there." Thunder Bay is acting as a hub for the evacuation, with Sandy Lake members stopping in the city on the way to host cities elsewhere in the province. The Canadian military is assisting with the evacuations. Racheal Anishinabie, manager of Sandy Lake's Mamow Weechiwayin Program, said she and her team have been assisting with the evacuations, as well. "We've actually been helping with Ontario, they're just really short-handed," she said. "So we just pitched in." "What we've been doing is just a lot of collaborating with them, getting people on and off planes, and also taking them to the university hotels," she said. "Some of them have been staying overnight and then they're heading down south to Toronto, Mississauga, Ottawa, Cornwall, all those places." "We've just been supporting that way," Anishinabie said. "We've been feeding them, getting them coffee, taking them for medical assistance." Anishinabie said it's important that evacuees get supports from fellow Sandy Lake members. "A lot of our people have anxiety," she said. "They left our community and they see … a fire right behind the community." "It's really traumatizing for the kids, the adults, the youth, our elders, because that's our home." Evacuations continue elsewhere in the region Red Lake 12 also prompted the evacuation of Deer Lake First Nation last week. "This fire sort of originated quite close to (Deer Lake), so their protections are a little more advanced in terms of what fire suppression has happened around that community, and the structural protection," said Chris Marchand, fire information officer with Ontario's Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services. Fire suppression and asset protection are underway at Sandy Lake, he said. "Crews of FireRangers are working with the Sandy Lake First Nation Fire Department to deploy fire protection, including sprinklers and hose lines that are fed by pumps throughout the community," he said. "And FireRanger crews are busy setting up a consolidated perimeter line on the west side of the community." Marchand said areas in the northern part of the region haven't seen as much rainfall as the southern parts of northwestern Ontario. That's a particular concern for Webequie First Nation, which has been evacuated due to the Nipigon 5 fire, Marchand said. "That fire … continues to see growth, fortunately away from the community, but they really have seen no rainfall over the past few days, whereas most areas within the northwest have," he said. "Crews there in Webequie are working the sides of the fire closest to the community, and protecting structures with sprinkler systems." Meanwhile, rainfall in the southern parts of northwestern Ontario has helped with dry conditions, Marchand said. "Still lingering, however, are the drought conditions in the soil that will require a lot more rain to bring it back to a state of normalcy," he said. "That moisture deficit in the ground is a concern, as it helps fires to dig in deep and require more time and resources to extinguish, as well as it makes the landscape very receptive to lightning fires." Despite a low fire hazard, a restricted fire zone remains in effect for the southwestern part of the region, including Thunder Bay. Smoke form the region's fires have led to air quality statements and warnings for much of the northwest. As of Monday, air quality warnings were in effect for the Fort Hope, Pickle Lake, Wunnummin Lake and Webequie areas. Dryden, Vermilion Bay, Ear Falls, Pikangikum, Red Lake, Sachigo Lake, Sandy Lake, Sioux Lookout, and surrounding areas, meanwhile, were under special air quality statements.
