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Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Cross Lake elder turns 80 next month; going home her birthday wish
Nora McLeod turns 80 next month, and for her birthday, she hopes to be back home to celebrate in Cross Lake. 'Hopefully,' she said, seated on a couch near the lobby of the Victoria Inn, her cellphone firmly in hand. McLeod is among the many Cross Lake evacuees currently staying at the airport-area hotel. The latest word among them is that American firefighters are being deployed to help fight the nearby blaze. Cross Lake Chief David Monias confirmed to the Free Press that U.S. firefighters are expected to arrive Friday. A report from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre on Tuesday noted that 99 American firefighters are being sent to Manitoba. That news brought relief to McLeod, who had heard from people still in the community that fires were leaping from island to island. 'My home is on an island,' she said. 'Hopefully, it's safe.' She arrived in Winnipeg by car on Saturday, choosing not to fly on a C-130 Hercules. 'I might have had a heart attack,' she said, admitting she's too nervous for air travel. Instead, she travelled with her son and daughter-in-law, completing the 800-kilometre journey from Norway House — their first evacuation stop — to Winnipeg. As an elder, McLeod was able to skip the congregate evacuation centres and secure a hotel room. 'It's been tiring,' she said. A great-grandmother, McLeod noted that her family is scattered — across Winnipeg, and as far away as Niagara Falls in southern Ontario. This isn't her first evacuation. She remembers 1989, when 25,000 people from 25 Northern Manitoba communities were forced from their homes during one of Canada's worst forest fire seasons. At the time, she was an addictions worker and remained in the community to assist evacuees and firefighters. 'The fires were so close,' she said. 'We still couldn't go home. We had to stay in the band office. I tell my grandchildren now that we worked and we had a hard time. We couldn't sleep. The only pillow I had was a paper-towel roll.' Now, McLeod spends much of her time reading updates online and through Facebook, monitoring what friends and neighbours post. 'I keep checking my camera, as well,' she said. The security camera shows her home on an island in the community, untouched, so far, by the flames. At the nearby Best Western, 61-year-old Mauricio Diaz-Lopez, his 32-year-old wife Joelynn Scott and their 10-year-old daughter Mayela Diaz-Lopez have been in Winnipeg for only a few days. Unlike many evacuees, they are from Wabaseemoong Independent Nations in northern Ontario. Their community was the first First Nation in the area to be evacuated after the Kenora 20 wildfire — which started in Ingolf, Ont., and later led to the closure of Manitoba's Whiteshell Provincial Park — began threatening the region last month. 'We were sent to Niagara Falls,' said Mauricio, originally from Nicaragua. 'We were there for about two weeks.' Homesick, the family purchased flights back home, only to be evacuated to Winnipeg Monday. 'We wanted to be home. We live in the bush. Being somewhere else, it's just not the same,' Mauricio said. He previously lived in Winnipeg, which made adjusting a bit easier. The family also knows others in the city. 'My best friend is here on the fourth floor,' Mayela said. This isn't their first experience with evacuation. In 2021, the family had to leave their home due to wildfires, ending up in Thunder Bay while others from their community went to London, Ont. Mauricio said the Red Cross has supported them with accommodations and meals. He also rented a car, and the family planned to spend Wednesday in Carman. 'It kills the day,' he said. 'And I can work on my driving,' added Joelynn. Across the parking lot, Antonio Cook sat next to a Tataskweyak Cree Nation (Split Lake) elder on the edge of the hotel's water fountain. Cook had just heard that the fire had reached the community, and that if the wind shifted direction, his and many other homes on the First Nation, about 900 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, would be at risk. 'It's pretty hard,' Cook said, having had to travel to Gillam before being flown on a C-130 to Winnipeg. After arriving, he spent about five hours at Billy Mosienko Arena, one of the city's congregate evacuation sites, before heading to the hotel. 'They've been treating us good, meals three times a day,' he said. 'I'm enjoying myself right now.' Scott BilleckReporter Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade's worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024. Read more about Scott. Every piece of reporting Scott produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is 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. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
No pet policy leaves some wildfire evacuees in tears
In a crowded Winnipeg hotel parking lot Tuesday afternoon, one sound cut through the noise: the cries of seven-year-old Belinda McKay. While adults stood around sharing cigarettes and stories of their escape from the fire zone aboard C-130 Hercules aircraft, Belinda, who was evacuated with her family from Norway House days earlier, was emotional. Tears poured down her cheeks as she called out for her beloved Buzy. Ruth Bonneville / Free Press Bernice Moore's extended family from Cross Lake is living in hotel rooms at the Victoria Inn and they're upset their dog Buzy is not able to stay with them at the hotel but is being fostered by Manitoba Animal Alliance. Displaced from her home in Cross Lake, Belinda was struggling with her new surroundings at an airport-area hotel. Her world crumbled further as a volunteer from Manitoba Animal Alliance gently placed Buzy — her mixed-breed companion — into a crate in the back of an SUV. Buzy, also 7, isn't just a pet, he's her constant companion. 'She's going to be OK,' said Beth Olayvar, the volunteer who will foster Buzy until the family can return home. Belinda's grandmother, Bernice Moore, knelt beside her, holding the girl tightly while brushing away her own behind dark sunglasses. Belinda had arrived with her mother, Darrylee, from Norway House, making the more than eight-hour trek by pickup truck with half a dozen children. Her grandfather, Darell Moore, flew in on a C-130 Monday evening and was still waiting for a room at the hotel where the rest of his family was staying. 'They said it takes about two days from the time you register with Red Cross to the time they find you a room,' he said. He spent the night in the truck his daughter had driven down, parked alongside Buzy. 'Tough to sleep,' he said. 'But I can't leave the dog alone, and we had the windows open and it was nice to breathe in the fresh air.' Olayvar, meanwhile, was heading home to give Buzy a bath. The back of her vehicle had treats, food and toys. 'I have no pets but I love dogs,' she said. 'I've always wanted to help. I've got the time now, too. I was just laid off at work, so it was perfect time.' Similar scenes played out in other locations around the city, as many evacuees who were able to flee the Manitoba wildfires with their pets have learned the animals are not allowed where they are being lodged. A 'no animals' policy at some Winnipeg hotels means plenty of furry friends are isolated from their families, even if it's only temporary. Some evacuees have been forced to leave their pets with animal shelters around Winnipeg, including the Winnipeg Humane Society. The humane society opened a popup shelter Tuesday at St. Norbert Community Centre within 24 hours. 'The fact that it came together in pretty much a day is quite incredible,' said Carly Peters, director of communications and marketing at the humane society. 'We are super grateful to have this space to offer families care and comfort for their animals while they stay somewhere else.' The space includes a vet clinic, vaccines for sick animals, a hockey rink for exercise and volunteers that will help feed the pets. It has room for about 60 pets, with one room for cats and another for dogs. Peters expects the facility to fill up quickly. The non-profit will consider expanding to other recreational centres, if needed. Families have been encouraged to reunite with their pets during the shelter's visiting hours from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 'Pets are family,' Peters said. 'It's important that all family members are cared for, especially in difficult times like this.' The humane society is accepting donations of dog and cat food, kennels, collars, pet bowls, and cleaning supplies (including towels, sheets, buckets and mops). Peters said those wishing to help can visit the Winnipeg Humane Society website. The Manitoba Animal Alliance has also been busy. Volunteers with the rescue organization take care of the animals until they are able to be fostered. 'We've been totally swamped,' said co-ordinator Josee Belanger-Galay. 'Our director has been posting a dog every five minutes.' Tuesdays A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world. The organization has taken in about 15 dogs since Saturday and has received hundreds of emails from evacuees whose pets have been refused entry at hotels. Winnipeg Pet Rescue Shelter executive director Carla Martinelli-Irvine said people have offered their homes. 'It's absolutely incredible how the community has come together,' Martinelli-Irvine said, noting her shelter is full. 'I just hope we can continue to show how much we all care about animals.' Scott BilleckReporter Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade's worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024. Read more about Scott. Every piece of reporting Scott produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is 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. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
23-05-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Big raise for early childhood educators
Early childhood educators are getting raises of up to $5 more per hour. The Manitoba and Canadian governments announced a new wage grid for the local early learning and child-care sector sector Friday. The grid sets recommended target wages for various positions, including front-line ECEs. The changes are retroactive to April 1. 'Child-care professionals are at the heart of providing exceptional care to our children and need to be paid accordingly,' Tracy Schmidt, minister of education and early childhood learning, said in a news release. Schmidt was flanked by Winnipeg West MP Doug Eyolfson to deliver the news to child-care providers firsthand at the Manitoba Child Care Association's annual conference. The duo was joined by the association's executive director, Jodie Kehl, at the Victoria Inn in Winnipeg. The association's two-day conference — The Brilliance of Play: Adventure Awaits — ends Friday. The provincial and federal governments are also topping up funding to licensed and funded child-care facilities through its wage grid operating supplement to support the increase. Ottawa is providing $56.2 million for the initiative, while Manitoba is earmarking $4.2 million. The province is also increasing base operating grants for a total of $4.6 million for all licensed facilities. Schmidt said the province is working on a workforce recruitment and retention strategy for the sector. It will be released in 'the coming months,' she said. Maggie MacintoshEducation reporter Maggie Macintosh reports on education for the Free Press. Originally from Hamilton, Ont., she first reported for the Free Press in 2017. Read more about Maggie. Funding for the Free Press education reporter comes from the Government of Canada through the Local Journalism Initiative. Every piece of reporting Maggie produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is 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. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
