SASKATOON — Vivian Ruiz-Arcand knows firsthand the emotional and mental impact on the residents of communities affected by the raging wildfires in northern Saskatchewan. More than 15,000 have already fled their homes and settled in other cities and towns in the province.
Ruiz-Arcand said that aside from a place to stay – such as an evacuation centre – and meals, people should also receive support to deal with the emotional and mental toll of losing their home and livelihood.
“I am concerned for people. I am worried about the traumatic aftereffects this is going to have on people. I am concerned about people losing their pets when they leave them behind,” said Ruiz-Arcand, speaking on Wednesday in Sutherland at a media event, where she was joined by April ChiefCalf, Saskatchewan NDP Shadow Minister for Housing.
“People losing their homes, people whose livelihoods are at stake. Last night I watched our major buildings, our Rona store, and a historical trading post that we have both burned. They are gone.”
She added that, unlike her, educators who have an employer that offers mental health support through the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation, she’s concerned about those who do not have the same opportunity to access such services.
“I can access those. But suppose you don't have an employer who offers mental health support. In that case, I understand that perhaps at the evacuation centres, there are people who might have training in helping stabilize those who need it,” said Ruiz-Arcand.
“Like psychological mental health first aid. But I haven't seen any formal offerings of those mental health supports other than employees who work in that realm being deployed to an evacuation centre. We need to do better, and we need to do it now.”
Ruiz-Arcand said the evacuees are also employees who were working before this tragedy, earning a living for their families. Now, some are at risk of suffering from the traumatic effects of their experience.
“People are traumatized. Some left their pets behind, thinking they’d be back in a few days. Some homes are already gone. And while words of encouragement are important, we also need tangible help,” she said.
“Grocery store vouchers, gas cards, mental health services – these are survival tools right now. I’m concerned about the traumatic aftereffects. Some of the workers deployed to help are evacuees themselves. We can’t overlook the emotional burden.”
She said residents appreciate the donations and assistance provided to them by generous people, as well as all the messages of support. But people also need tangible items, especially those who are not being sponsored by any agency.
“We appreciate the [messages] ‘we're standing strong with you, La Ronge, we're here for you.’ Those sentiments are wonderful, and they keep people going; they provide hope and inspiration,” said Ruiz-Arcand.
“There are people who are not being sponsored by any agency, who don't have access to any agency, who need gas and fuel, and they need to be able to use mobility, and they need information.”
She said they are a community of volunteers, with some choosing to stay behind to help rescue pets and risking their lives to assist firefighters across Saskatchewan and British Columbia in trying to contain the wildfires.
“Our communities rely on volunteers. We don’t have full-time fire departments. Our support systems are people. But, there’s more work, and like I said – I’m just someone who cares deeply,” said Ruiz-Arcand.
“Please know, those of us who can advocate for you will. And to everyone who has been evacuated, I want to say: We see you. You matter. And we’re still here for each other. People need to understand – this isn’t just about relocation. It’s about the loss of history, culture and livelihood. And it’s also about the uncertainty of not knowing what’s next.”
“I am hearing widespread reports of people being turned away from hotels in Prince Albert and Saskatoon,” said ChiefCalf in a media release issued Wednesday following the event. “More must be done. These people don’t know when they will be able to return home and, in some cases, whether they will have a home to return to at all.
“They need to know there will be a roof over their heads every night during this crisis and that they won’t be moved around unnecessarily, something that will only add further stress during such a terrifying time.”
The Saskatchewan NDP is collecting donations for wildfire evacuees at ChiefCalf’s office Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 304-1114 22nd Street West in Saskatoon and at the office of MLA Bhajan Brar at 6300 Dewdney Avenue in Regina.
