The annual spring departure from the James Bay coastal community of Kashechewan has begun.
Evacuation flights for between 450 to 500 people set to leave the community due to flood concerns, involving the Albany River, started Sunday and continued Monday.
Timmins-James Bay MPP Gilles Bisson said a number of aircrafts were used to fly the evacuees to Hearst, Kapuskasing and Smooth Rock Falls. Bisson said while there is no imminent threat of flooding, the situation can change rapidly.
"Well, it's the usual story, the Albany River is breaking up and worrying some, so the Ministry of Natural Resources and Emergency Measures Ontario, who is responsible for monitoring the river and looking at what's going on, they found there's a potential for rise of water that could cause a lot of problems for the community of Kashechewan so it's a precautionary. They're pulling out anyone who's a senior or a young person or anybody that would have to be taken out right away," said Bisson.
Kapuskasing mayor Alan Spacek said there’s an experienced team of people in the town that handles the evacuation every year and he said once again they’ve quickly stepped up to take care of the new arrivals.
“This is our 11th year now hosting our neighbours from the coast,” said Spacek. “We've done it in the spring for break up, summer for forest fires and other emergencies, so we've developed quite a system around this and there is quite an effort around it. You need to be able to arrange for accommodations there's a fair bit of tracking and paper work that goes with it, but we seem to have it well in-hand. We've developed a system over the years.”
This crop of evacuees join around 240 people from Kashechewan who have been living in Kapuskasing year round, while they wait for new homes to be rebuilt.
Earlier this month, the federal and provincial governments reached a deal with the Kashechewan First Nation to improve the living standards on the northern Ontario reserve.
The action plan is aimed at developing community support including housing, infrastructure and healthcare.
The agreement will also explore options to relocate the community.
