By Alex Soloducha

Prince Albert Grand Council fundraising for evacuees

Jul 4, 2015 | 9:32 AM

With many evacuees to Prince Albert still unable to return home, the Prince Albert Grad Council (PAGC) is working to improve their stay as much as they can.

Ron Michel, grand chief of the PAGC, said they started putting their Emergency Command Centre together on Monday. 

The Senator Allen Bird Memorial Centre was open on Tuesday and they’ve been supporting the Red Cross by helping out with transportation, social services, communicating in traditional languages and updating people on what’s happening in their community.

“All of our staff has managed and got information together and data in terms of the fire situation, the smoke and distance and effects on health and road conditions,” said Michel.

They’ve also worked to provide all the information they have on social media. Volunteers have been reporting back to individuals about their community one-on-one. They have also been offering transportation in Prince Albert, Saskatoon and Regina. 

Safety first

Safety concerns and tips surrounding discarded needles in P.A.

14h ago

Liquor stores must change hours

Prince Albert limits liquor store hours

17h ago

skin care +

LUXE22 Clinic : Elevating Beauty with Expert Treatments

18h ago

“We were filling in the gaps,” said Michel. “And we started communicating with the city of Prince Albert.”

He said they’ve worked on organizing recreational activities for young people and have begun gathering essentials not provided to evacuees by the Red Cross. 

The Memorial Centre has been named as the donation place for people to drop off items to help out the over 4,000 evacuees. The PAGC are asking for diapers, blankets, deodorant, shampoo and summer clothing specifically.

“We also had some monetary donations to take the kids to some of the places such as the swimming pool, the movies and so on and so forth,” said Michel.

These donations have come in from businesses such as Community Development Corporation, Ariva and Cameco.

The PAGC has also been putting out letters to other places in the city, according to Michel, including the Alfred Jenkins Soccer Centre and Galaxy Cinemas, looking for help with activities for evacuees.

So far, Michel said, “It’s been very positive.”

At their Emergency Operation Centre in Prince Albert they’ve also been organizing daily activities for elders such as card games, bingos and coffee-times. On Saturday, bingo will run at 1 p.m.

Fundraisers have also been planned at different locations in the province, one being Kinsmen Park.

The outdoor donation-based concert will be held on Sunday from 2-10 p.m. with support from the city of Prince Albert.

Performers will include Donny Parenteau, Marty Ballentyne, Black Eyed Creez and more. A Steak Night fundraiser will also be held on Saturday in Regina at Sip Nightclub from 4-9 p.m.

According to Michel, their goal is to assist Chief Tammy Cook-Searson from the Lac La Ronge Indian Band and Chief Edward Henderson from Montreal Lake Cree Nation while they are on the frontlines, so to speak. With them sticking out the unfavorable environmental conditions in their communities to keep an eye on property and people still there, Michel wants to look after the evacuated people.  

“We’ll do as much as we can to help our people in Prince Albert and Saskatoon and Regina,” he said.

Brian Hardlotte, vice-chief PAGC, said he wants to inform people that they are open to all evacuees. Besides the PAGC, they’ve been taking care of people from La Loche, Pinehouse and Weyakwin.

“This centre is open for everybody, not just the Prince Albert Grand Council membership”, said Hardlotte.

So far, PAGC has raised $1,000 and gathered three truckloads of clothing in Saskatoon.

For more updates, people can visit the PAGC website.

asoloducha@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alex_soloducha