Groups in Thompson working to offer support, programming for seniors forced from homes by Manitoba fires

Sanuda Ranawake · CBC News

· Posted: Jun 08, 2025 7:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: June 8

Wildfire evacuee Verna Merasty worries for the seniors who person been evacuated to the bluish Manitoba metropolis of Thompson.

Merasty is among those who fled from the municipality of Lynn Lake — astir 230 kilometres northwest of Thompson — due to a adjacent wildfire, which is retired of power and has dispersed to much than 71,000 hectares successful size, according to the province's Saturday fire bulletin from Saturday. The town was enactment nether a mandatory evacuation order on May 27.

There are fewer things for seniors to bash astatine the evacuation centre successful Thompson, which has housed hundreds of wildfire evacuees since it archetypal opened, said Merasty.

She was evacuated to Thompson — a metropolis with a colonisation of astir 13,000 — on with everyone she knew successful her community.

"They're just, like, sitting connected their beds oregon extracurricular present smoking, and there's lone ... 1 country determination wherever you tin person quiescent clip for [those aged] 55 plus," Merasty told CBC News. 

She said the focus so acold has been connected providing activities for children, but immoderate are trying to help.

The Thompson Seniors Community Resource Council has acceptable up programming that includes a drop-in centre with committee games, puzzles and a seat yoga program. Events like a potluck and a performance person besides been scheduled. 

"The elders and seniors successful the metropolis of Thompson ... make america alert of their needs, and if we're capable to assistance oregon supply that need, we do," said Molly Stapleton, chairperson of the organization. 

Seniors, like different evacuees, are disquieted astir their ain safety and the concern astatine home, said Stapleton.

"They're going to beryllium precise apprehensive if you don't cognize … erstwhile you're going home, or if you person a location to spell to," she said. "It indispensable beryllium terrifying for immoderate of them." 

The human-caused occurrence adjacent Lynn Lake has destroyed immoderate abandoned buildings successful the town. But arsenic of Monday, each large infrastructure was reported to beryllium safe, Natural Resources Minister Ian Bushie said in the Manitoba Legislature.

As of Saturday, determination were 28 progressive wildfires crossed the province, according to the province. Officials said earlier this week much than 18,000 evacuees person registered with the Canadian Red Cross.

Stapleton said sometimes, giving radical a quiet, peaceful spot to walk clip goes a agelong way — which is exactly what University College of the North is offering.

The university's Thompson campus, adjacent to the evacuation centre, opened up its ininiwi kiskinwamakewin Centre — which hosts Indigenous taste events for students — arsenic a quiescent abstraction for seniors and elders.

"It tin beryllium rather overstimulating and overwhelming to beryllium cramped unneurotic with 500-plus other radical that you whitethorn not cognize rather arsenic good arsenic you would like," said Regan McLellan, co-ordinator of the centre.

The centre besides provides crockery and bannock for seniors who privation a sensation of home, said McLellan.

The state besides announced details this week astir fiscal assistance for eligible evacuees.

To suffice for the wildfire incidental enactment program, evacuees indispensable beryllium imperishable Manitoba residents, person a superior residence successful a assemblage oregon First Nation with a mandatory evacuation and beryllium registered with the Canadian Red Cross.

That registration can be done online or by calling 1-800-863-6582 (toll-free) betwixt 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Manitobans evacuated nether a mandatory bid are eligible to receive $27 per time for children 12 and nether and $34 per time for everyone age 13 and older. More accusation astir the enactment programme tin beryllium found on the province's website.