NWT Donations Delivered to Wildfire Evacuees

Sherrie Chalifoux hugs her father Alfred in Fort Vermilion on Monday evening. (Photo submitted by Sherrie Chalifoux)

Operation Complete!

Yellowknife and NWT citizens delivered much needed items for evacuees in Northern Alberta last night.

Vice President of Operations for Deton’cho Logistics Stu Impett says people from across the NWT helped stuff a a plane, with goods such as underwear, hair elastics, Polysporin, and Vaseline for evacuees staying in Fort Vermillion from High Level.

Impett says they delivered the goods at the evacuation camp last evening around 8pm, thanks to Summit Air.

He shared a post calling for donations on Sunday, what went viral on Facebook.

He says timing was key, and hopes weather improves for the evacuees to return home safely soon.

It was an emotional delivery for Summit Air’s Sherrie Chalifoux, who is originally from Bushe’ River, one of the Dene Tha’ communities that is also evacuated. Her father Alfred Chalifoux, who is well known among Dene hand-game players, is one of the evacuees camped out in Fort Vermilion.

“It was tough to leave, knowing he has to sleep in a tent until the weather changes, and people can go home,” she told CKLB in a Facebook message on Tuesday.

Alberta Wildfire Crews report The Chuckegg Creek Fire remains Out of Control and spans an estimated 130, 000 hectares, as of Tuesday. Their next update will be available on-line after 8pm.

May 28 Fire Map, Alberta Wildfire Update.

About the Author

Josh Campbell
Start your morning with the Splash on Denendeh Sunrise from 7:30-8:30am. Campbell was trained and mentored by longtime CKLB host and Gwich'in entertainer William Greenland. Prior to hosting the morning show and filling in on the Saturday Request Show, he had stints in the Yukon on CKRW the Rush, CBC North in Yellowknife, and began his broadcasting career at CJCD Mix 100. Before moving North he was born and raised on the banks of the Tobique River, the traditional territory of the Wolastoqiyik, Tobique Maliseet First Nation.