THUNDER BAY – Sixty-five Kashechewan First Nation evacuees remain in Thunder Bay more than a week after the first wave arrived in the city.
Evacuees from the flood threatened James Bay area community first arrived in Thunder Bay on April 17, shortly after a state of emergency was declared.
Weather conditions will prohibit any further arrivals in the coming days, according to a city news release.
The evacuees have visited Prince Arthur’s Landing and have participated in recreational opportunities such as arts, crafts and games with city recreation and culture staff, activities at the Kinsmen Youth Centre, swimming at the hotel pool with city lifeguards on site and outings to Maple Moose and the movies.
“We are pleased to be able to provide a full schedule of recreational opportunities for our guests while they are with us,” community emergency management coordinator Dennis Brescacin said in a statement. “The city’s recreation and culture staff have been actively involved in entertaining our visitors and so far the evacuation and their stay in Thunder Bay has been a very smooth and positive experience.”
Other planned events include bowling, a superhero and princess costume event at the hotel, further activities at the Kinsmen Youth Centre and more opportunities for swimming, movies, games and arts and crafts.
Weather assessments and monitoring of the Albany River will determine whether the residents still remaining in the community need to be evacuated.
Other Ontario communities hosting evacuees include Kapuskasing, Smooth Rock Falls, Wawa, Hearst and Cochrane.
