Sault Ste. Marie hosting forest fire evacuees from northwestern Ontario
Sault Ste. Marie is among municipalities in northern Ontario hosting evacuees from forest fires in the northwest.
The city is hosting around 100 people from North Spirit Lake First Nation, located more than 900 kilometres northwest of the Sault.
Forest fires continue to rage across northern Ontario, prompting a number of communities to evacuate. The evacuees from North Spirit Lake will be housed at the Water Tower Inn.
Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Christian Provenzano said Wednesday a number of community partners are involved.
"I want to thank all of the healthcare and primary care providers, social services, I want to thank all of the First Nations partners that are working with us on this, I want to recognize the Water Tower Inn," said Provenzano.
"This is really, truly a team effort. A lot of people doing a lot of heavy lifting, and I need to recognize the really great work that's being done by the CAO and city staff that are involved in this."
City CAO Malcolm White said the request to host evacuees came from the provincial government last Friday. White said city staff and community partners, including Algoma Public Health, Sault Area Hospital and the Red Cross, worked through the weekend on a plan to host the evacuees.
"Everybody has been very quick to respond and assist us with whatever they can provide," said White, adding local Indigenous agencies -- as well as officials from Batchewana and Garden River First Nations -- have been part of the effort to host evacuees.
With regard to the ongoing pandemic, White said there are no concerns as there are currently no active COVID-19 cases in North Spirit Lake and that the community has a high vaccination rate.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.