In the year since a fast-moving fire tore through the small town of Slave Lake, Alberta, homes have begun to sprout from the ashes and important community landmarks are being given a second chance to give comfort to those touched by the devastation.
The destruction left in the fire’s wake was almost unbelievable – as was the quick and compassionate response from communities far and near. The fire reduced roughly one-third of the town to ashes that morning, destroying more than 500 family homes as well as churches, businesses and other familiar buildings and structures.
“The insurance industry estimated in excess of $700 million in damages,” explains Brian Vance, the town’s chief administrative officer. But rebuilding is already happening, he adds, and about 230 development permits had been issued by late May.
Though seemingly insurmountable, the challenge of rebuilding the once-lively areas affected by the fire has been met with more determination and spirit than anyone could have predicted.
“A lot has been happening,” says Kara Sinclair (‘10 Multimedia), whose home survived the fires. “People are really going forward. The main focus is building houses for the people who lost their homes. It’s awesome to see how fast everything is growing.”
As the effort to rebuild the town gets well underway, the speed at which builders and volunteers are working gives hope to those still waiting for a place to call home.
“I think the strength of the community has held on,” says Sinclair. “It’s really impressive to see. I left for two months, and when I came back there was so much more built.”
Numerous benefit concerts and events have taken place since the fires, including a project spurred by country singer Paul Brandt called Build it Forward, which has helped to raise over $100,000 towards rebuilding the library that was burnt to the ground the morning of the fires.
“There was nothing left,” remembers Marilyn Cavanagh, Board Chair of the Slave Lake Regional Library Board. “Not a piece of paper, a pen, a book, a filing cabinet. Nothing but rubble. We had to start all over with nothing. The town moved quickly – even while we were still evacuated they had secured a temporary space for the library.
“I think it’s really important that people know,” she continues, “that everything that is within that temporary space is a result of donations from people across Canada. Everything has come to us as a gift. There was no fund-raising done, things just started to arrive.”
She recalls with emotion how a 9-year-old Lethbridge boy requested donations for the library in place of gifts at his birthday party. He even set aside his favourite book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, to be donated.
“I’ve often been brought to tears by the things that have come to us,” she says. “It has made me realize how much people value the library in their community.”
Perhaps one of the most anticipated visits of all was the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in the first week of July 2011, just six weeks after the disaster. Sinclair remembers their visit with gratitude.
“How many people actually showed up for the royal visit was amazing,” she says. “They weren’t even supposed to come here – it was their decision, and that was pretty cool. People were very happy.”
Sinclair says she has raised over $10,000 with a home video of the fires filmed by members of her family. As she struggled to watch her friends cope with their losses, the ability to raise funds for them and her community brought her comfort, and she plans to do the same with a similar video on the rebuilding process.
“With all that’s happened, it brought everyone closer together,” she says. “It’s what helped me get through everything.”
Despite the amount of building left to be done – the process is not expected to be completed for at least another couple of years – the enduring will and bravery of those most affected is a testament to the power of positivity and the unwavering strength of human spirit.
“It hasn’t been a walk in the park,” says Cavanagh of the rebuilding process. “It’s been hard physically, emotionally, to get to the point where we’re at now. From where we were a year ago, it’s amazing. My pride in our country has grown tenfold over the past year.”
For information on how to purchase a DVD, contact Sinclair at [email protected]. To donate directly to the Canadian Red Cross visit www.redcross.ca or call 1-800-565-4483.
The destruction left in the fire’s wake was almost unbelievable – as was the quick and compassionate response from communities far and near. The fire reduced roughly one-third of the town to ashes that morning, destroying more than 500 family homes as well as churches, businesses and other familiar buildings and structures.
“The insurance industry estimated in excess of $700 million in damages,” explains Brian Vance, the town’s chief administrative officer. But rebuilding is already happening, he adds, and about 230 development permits had been issued by late May.
Though seemingly insurmountable, the challenge of rebuilding the once-lively areas affected by the fire has been met with more determination and spirit than anyone could have predicted.
“A lot has been happening,” says Kara Sinclair (‘10 Multimedia), whose home survived the fires. “People are really going forward. The main focus is building houses for the people who lost their homes. It’s awesome to see how fast everything is growing.”
As the effort to rebuild the town gets well underway, the speed at which builders and volunteers are working gives hope to those still waiting for a place to call home.
“I think the strength of the community has held on,” says Sinclair. “It’s really impressive to see. I left for two months, and when I came back there was so much more built.”
Numerous benefit concerts and events have taken place since the fires, including a project spurred by country singer Paul Brandt called Build it Forward, which has helped to raise over $100,000 towards rebuilding the library that was burnt to the ground the morning of the fires.
“There was nothing left,” remembers Marilyn Cavanagh, Board Chair of the Slave Lake Regional Library Board. “Not a piece of paper, a pen, a book, a filing cabinet. Nothing but rubble. We had to start all over with nothing. The town moved quickly – even while we were still evacuated they had secured a temporary space for the library.
“I think it’s really important that people know,” she continues, “that everything that is within that temporary space is a result of donations from people across Canada. Everything has come to us as a gift. There was no fund-raising done, things just started to arrive.”
She recalls with emotion how a 9-year-old Lethbridge boy requested donations for the library in place of gifts at his birthday party. He even set aside his favourite book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, to be donated.
“I’ve often been brought to tears by the things that have come to us,” she says. “It has made me realize how much people value the library in their community.”
Perhaps one of the most anticipated visits of all was the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in the first week of July 2011, just six weeks after the disaster. Sinclair remembers their visit with gratitude.
“How many people actually showed up for the royal visit was amazing,” she says. “They weren’t even supposed to come here – it was their decision, and that was pretty cool. People were very happy.”
Sinclair says she has raised over $10,000 with a home video of the fires filmed by members of her family. As she struggled to watch her friends cope with their losses, the ability to raise funds for them and her community brought her comfort, and she plans to do the same with a similar video on the rebuilding process.
“With all that’s happened, it brought everyone closer together,” she says. “It’s what helped me get through everything.”
Despite the amount of building left to be done – the process is not expected to be completed for at least another couple of years – the enduring will and bravery of those most affected is a testament to the power of positivity and the unwavering strength of human spirit.
“It hasn’t been a walk in the park,” says Cavanagh of the rebuilding process. “It’s been hard physically, emotionally, to get to the point where we’re at now. From where we were a year ago, it’s amazing. My pride in our country has grown tenfold over the past year.”
For information on how to purchase a DVD, contact Sinclair at [email protected]. To donate directly to the Canadian Red Cross visit www.redcross.ca or call 1-800-565-4483.
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