(File photo/northeastNOW Staff)
Helping evacuees

Marguerite Riel Centre among organizations assisting evacuees

Jun 10, 2025 | 2:10 PM

Local organizations continue to work to help those displaced by wildfires in northern Saskatchewan.

The Marguerite Riel Centre in Melfort has been working with about 60 evacuees, and Executive Director Joanne Yakowec told northeastNOW that number may be higher, as some people could be staying with family in the community who are not listed with the centre.

Yakowec said two staff members are providing mental health supports to evacuees in Prince Albert, and the remainder of the staff are in Melfort working to help meet the needs of regular participants. They are also at hotels working with evacuees and, as such, may not be easy to reach at times.

Staff is at the Blue Bird Inn and the Canalta Hotel on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1 to 3 p.m. with healthy snacks for families, games, and activities.

Staff who are there “are able to help those needing to apply for other services, and provide them with some of the donations we have received, such as food, gift cards, clothing, hygiene items, diapers, infant food, children’s activities, and more,” according to Yakowec.

“We need to thank the community of Melfort for all the donations and Melfort businesses such as Melfort Kinettes who will be doing a free BBQ for evacuees [Tuesday night], Shoppers Drug Mart, Canadian Tire, Melfort COOP, T.J.’s Pizza who have been taking donations for $10 gift cards that we give out to evacuees – this will be especially helpful on weekends when there is less services available to provide food security to families.”

cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

View Comments