Last week the unimaginable happened. A good portion of a town in northern Alberta burned to the ground. Photos and video footage of Slave Lake show the devastation of the town, with people's homes and many livelihoods having gone up in flames. The evacuated people have been helped a great deal by neighbouring communities, but it will take the continuing support of northern Albertans to help get our Slave Lake friends back on their feet.
The extent of the damage is terrible, but the response from northern Albertan communities has been tremendous. The outpouring of support for the people and municipality of Slave Lake has been huge, and greatly needed, and it shows that in the face of tragedy the connectedness and strength of Albertan communities.
The local response has been nothing short of amazing. The local relief effort, led by a group of business owners and community members, started immediately and has not stopped since. Many people took days off work and made personal sacrifices to get the tons of donations provided by St. Paul and area residents to the people who need it. People brought hundreds of valuable items, from food – even pet food – to clothes and toys, which will help the people of Slave Lake rebuild their burned out homes from the ashes of one of the worst in recent Albertan memory.
The generosity and the help from local people cannot be understated. The community's response to the tragedy is a good indication of the mettle of the people here, of the generous and giving spirit of so many people who contributed to the effort.
