Latest news with #Manitobans'
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Steelworkers Humanity Fund donates $20,000 to support wildfire relief efforts in Manitoba
TORONTO, May 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Steelworkers Humanity Fund (SHF) is donating $20,000 to support people and communities evacuated due to the recent wildfires in Manitoba. Yesterday, the Manitoba government declared a province-wide state of emergency amid reports of an intensification of the wildfires that have been raging for weeks now. More than 17,000 residents of northern and eastern Manitoba, including the First Nations communities of Pimicikimak and Mathias Colomb and the city of Flin Flon, were ordered to evacuate, in what Premier Wab Kinew described as 'the largest evacuation in many Manitobans' living memory.' Many United Steelworkers (USW) union members in the area have been affected by the evacuation order, including almost all members of USW Locals 7106 and 9338 in Flin Flon. USW Local 7499 members in southeastern Manitoba (Lac du Bonnet) have been forced off work at the local mine for two weeks due to the presence of a nearby fire. The Steelworkers Humanity Fund is responding to the appeal sent by the Canadian Red Cross with a $20,000 donation to support local authorities in assisting those affected by the wildfires with immediate and ongoing relief, including financial assistance, support to evacuees and the communities hosting them, as well as recovery and resilience efforts. 'The Steelworkers Humanity Fund stands in solidarity with the communities affected by the devastating wildfires in Manitoba,' said Marty Warren, SHF President and USW National Director. 'Through our donation to the Canadian Red Cross, we're helping to ensure that immediate relief and long-term recovery efforts reach those who need it most, including our members and their communities. We are proud to support the vital work being done on the ground during this challenging time,' Warren said. Anyone wishing to donate can visit the Red Cross 2025 Manitoba Wildfires Appeal website. Founded in 1985, the Steelworkers Humanity Fund is a registered charitable organization that focuses primarily on development projects and emergency aid in developing countries but also supports Canadian communities. USW members contribute to the fund through clauses negotiated into collective agreements. In some cases, employers make matching contributions to the fund. For further information: Marty Warren, President, Steelworkers Humanity Fund, 416-544-5951Guillaume Charbonneau, Executive Director, Steelworkers Humanity Fund, 416-544-5944, gcharbonneau@ St. Pierre, USW Communications, 647-522-1630, dstpierre@ in to access your portfolio
Time of India
2 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Canada under siege: Wildfires force mass evacuations in Manitoba; indigenous communities at the forefront
More than 17,000 residents are expected to evacuate as wildfires rage across Manitoba , marking one of the largest displacements in the province's history. Pimicikamak Cree Nation suffers Among the hardest-hit are Indigenous communities like the Pimicikamak Cree Nation, where 767 people are still awaiting evacuation amid encroaching flames and heavy smoke. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bo Derek's Probably The Most Gorgeous 68-Year-Old. Paperela Undo "It's very smoky here [and] it's getting thicker, because the fire's at our doorstep," said Chief David Monias of Pimicikamak Cree Nation. The community, located approximately 530 kilometers north of Winnipeg, has been grappling with deteriorating air quality and limited evacuation routes. Highway junctions leading to Norway House, the primary evacuation point, have been compromised by fire and smoke, causing significant delays. Live Events Also Read : Over 4,000 evacuated as wildfires threaten Northern Saskatchewan Efforts are underway Efforts to airlift residents have been hampered by adverse weather conditions, leading to unexpected flight cancellations. The Canadian Armed Forces have since arrived in Norway House with planes to facilitate the evacuation. "Please, we need your full co-operation to get on these flights when your name is called," urged Chief Monias. "These fires are unpredictable and dangerous." Situation in Sherrindon The situation is equally dire in Sherridon, a community of about 85 residents, now surrounded by fire. "Right now, we've had no loss [of structures], but it is surrounding us completely," said Deputy Mayor Sheryl Matheson. "I had it at the footstep of my [Kenanow] Lodge yesterday, and the wildfire crew was able to extinguish it." Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew declared a province-wide state of emergency on Wednesday(May 28), enabling the mobilization of additional resources and emergency measures. "This is the largest evacuation in many Manitobans' living memory," Kinew stated. The declaration allows for coordinated efforts between federal, provincial, and local authorities to combat the fires and support affected communities. Evacuees are being relocated to shelters in Winnipeg and other urban centers, with facilities like the Billy Mosienko Arena being repurposed to accommodate the influx. The Canadian Red Cross and other organizations are providing essential services, including food, water, and medical care. Manitoba is battling 22 active wildfires as of May 29, with 83 out of 158 fires nationwide considered out of control. The fires have already scorched approximately 491,000 acres, and smoke is expected to drift south into the US, affecting air quality in the Midwest.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Climate
- Winnipeg Free Press
Terrifying inferno threatens everything in its path including, hopefully, any remaining climate-change doubts
Opinion If want to see what climate change looks like in real time, look no further than the smouldering forests of northern Manitoba. If you want to understand how fast a threat can turn into a crisis, ask the residents of northern communities who have been forced to flee their homes. And if you want to know what the future holds if we continue down this path — it's in the smoke-choked skies, the charred earth and the mass evacuation orders issued across our province this week. Wildfires threatening Flin Flon on Tuesday. (Supplied / Government of Manitoba) For the first time in its history, the entire city of Flin Flon has been ordered to evacuate, owing to an aggressive wildfire that tore across the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border, advancing with such force that there was no time to delay. First Nations communities — Pimicikamak and Mathias Colomb — are also under mandatory evacuation orders. The flames don't care about borders or jurisdictions. They are consuming whatever lies in their path. Premier Wab Kinew put it bluntly and truthfully Wednesday. 'This is the largest evacuation in many Manitobans' living memory and this will require significant resources and co-operation from all levels of government,' he said after declaring a provincewide state of emergency. The scale of this crisis is staggering. Thousands of people — children, elders, families — are scrambling to pack up what they can carry, leave their homes behind and pray there's something to return to. These aren't just fires, they are forced displacements. They are trauma. This fire season didn't come out of nowhere. Manitoba (and the rest of the world) has been warming steadily for years. Winters don't freeze the way they used to and summers continue to set new heat records. The boreal forest that once acted as a great northern carbon sink is now drying out, weakening and, in too many cases, burning. We've talked about 'the new normal' when it comes to climate change, but there's nothing normal about this. It's not normal that the residents of a city such as Flin Flon — built around mining, industry and resilience — are now scrambling to flee for their lives. It's not normal that First Nations must evacuate on short notice with minimal resources, repeating a cycle of crisis and recovery that is disproportionately borne by Indigenous communities across this country. This is the real face of climate change. Not just melting ice caps and rising sea levels, but families forced from their homes in northern Manitoba. It's smoke warnings in Winnipeg. It's the rising cost of fighting fires that burn longer, hotter and more unpredictably than ever. The economic costs will be high and the emotional toll will be even higher. The worst part? We knew this was coming. We've known for years. Climate scientists have been warning that these fires — bigger, faster and more devastating — would become more common. Meanwhile, Kinew has requested help from the Canadian Armed Forces to assist with evacuations — a wise and necessary move. The emergency response has been swift, including from the Red Cross. Manitobans, as always, are stepping up to help wherever they can. Volunteers are mobilizing and the City of Winnipeg has opened arenas as temporary shelters for evacuees. We've seen before what Manitobans can do when we come together. During the 1997 flood. During the pandemic. During countless blizzards and droughts. We help each other. We rebuild. But we need more than emergency response. We need prevention. We need investment in firefighting infrastructure, in forest management, in early warning systems. We need to build communities that are resilient — not just in spirit, but in the concrete, structural ways that can protect people when disaster strikes. And above all, we need a wholesale shift in how we treat climate change. It can no longer be a 'future problem.' It's a 'right now' problem. Manitoba, Canada and the world must treat this like the crisis it is. That means bold action, not polite targets. Weekday Mornings A quick glance at the news for the upcoming day. This week, Manitoba is in crisis. But it's a story that will play out in communities across Canada with increased intensity and danger going forward. This problem is not going away. The smoke will eventually clear. The fire will be brought under control. But unless we change course, this won't be the last time a Manitoba town flees in fear. This won't be the last time a premier pleads for federal support. This won't be the last headline of destruction and mass evacuations. Let Flin Flon, Pimicikamak and Mathias Colomb be the fire alarms we finally heed. Because this isn't just Manitoba's crisis, it's everyone's. Tom BrodbeckColumnist Tom Brodbeck is a columnist with the Free Press and has over 30 years experience in print media. He joined the Free Press in 2019. Born and raised in Montreal, Tom graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and commerce. Read more about Tom. Tom provides commentary and analysis on political and related issues at the municipal, provincial and federal level. His columns are built on research and coverage of local events. The Free Press's editing team reviews Tom's columns before they are posted online or published in print – part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. 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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Out-of-control Canadian wildfires sending smoke into Upper Midwest prompt air quality alerts
MINNEAPOLIS – Extreme wildfires burning in Canada and prompting evacuations are now impacting the U.s., as weather systems will cause smoke to drift southward into areas of Minnesota and Wisconsin in the Upper Midwest late this week. More than 160 wildfires across Canada have burned more than 1.6 million acres. Fast-moving fires across Saskatchewan and Manitoba triggered evacuations this week. How Is Air Quality Measured? The fires in Manitoba prompted provincial officials to issue a state of emergency. "This is the largest evacuation in many Manitobans' living memory, and this will require significant resources and co-operation from all levels of government," Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said. "I have spoken with the prime minister, and we have asked for the support of the Canadian Armed Forces in transporting evacuees. There are hundreds of people who are mobilized to get you to safety and provide help. This is what Manitobans do, and we will get through this." The FOX Forecast Center is tracking smoke across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes through Friday evening. Wildfire smoke will drift over cities including Duluth and Minneapolis in Minnesota and Green Bay and Milwaukee in Wisconsin. The Dakotas will also experience some smoke. By Friday night, smoke could move down into Illinois, including Chicago. Air quality alerts are in effect for parts of the Upper Midwest, including areas west of Lake Superior to the Canadian border. The air quality in the Arrowhead of Minnesota is forecast to reach red, or unhealthy, on the air quality index. According to the National Weather Service, the smoke will drift southeastward with an area of high pressure beginning Thursday morning and could linger near Lake Superior into Friday morning. On Friday, another round of heavy smoke from wildfires will likely descend into Minnesota behind a cold front. The situation this week will be less hazardous than what Canada and the northern U.S. experienced nearly two years ago during a devastating Canadian wildfire season. In June 2023, the wildfires in Canada turned the skies across the Northeast orange and reduced air quality to hazardous – the most extreme rating on the air quality index – for major cities, including New York City, Philadelphia and Washington. The dramatic scene made Manhattan look like a Martian landscape. However, this likely won't be the last wildfire smoke from Canada to reach the U.S. this year. Canada's wildfire season is most active from May through article source: Out-of-control Canadian wildfires sending smoke into Upper Midwest prompt air quality alerts
Global News
2 days ago
- General
- Global News
‘It's very dangerous': Chief of Manitoba First Nation says some residents await evacuation
More than 700 people at a northern Manitoba First Nation were still waiting to be evacuated as of Thursday morning. Chief David Monias of Pimicikamak Cree Nation told Global Winnipeg many people have escaped the flames and are safe in Norway House. However, a number of others are still waiting to flee a nearby wildfire. Many of those who have fled Pimicikamak, Monias said, arrived at Norway House by car or bus, but there are limited escape routes from his community, so concerns remain for those who have yet to make the trip. The wildfire situation has left Pimicikamak's airport non-operational. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'We're very fortunate, and I thank Norway House chief and council and their staff for receiving our people and putting them up at their multiplex and having some of them billeted and feeding them the best way they can,' Monias said. Story continues below advertisement 'It's very dangerous … our escape route toward Highway 6 was cut off, so we only had the escape route to Norway House.' The area, however, is set to get a helping hand from the Canadian military, the chief said. 'We just got notified early this morning, that there will be a Hercules (aircraft) that's going to be landing in Norway House.' Pimicikimak and Mathias Colomb First Nations, along with the city of Flin Flon, were among the northern communities issued mandatory evacuation orders on Wednesday afternoon in what Premier Wab Kinew called 'the largest evacuation in many Manitobans' living memory.'
