In brief

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This article was published 31/05/2025 (234 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dealership offers space

A Swan River car dealership has stepped up to help evacuees fleeing wildfires.

Redline Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, which is 300 kilometres south of Flin Flon, has cleared some of its car lots to make space for tents and camper trailers, the dealership’s owner said Friday.

“The community has been really good to us over the last 13 years, and I know it’s not our direct community, but it impacts everybody, Greg Ashauer said. “I think it’s the right thing to do.”

He decided to open the dealership to evacuees because he heard hotels were already full of evacuees in Winnipeg and Brandon.

No one has shown up yet, but Ashauer was expecting evacuees to show up late Friday after getting calls from dozens of people from Flin Flon and Mathias Colomb Cree Nation. He said water, electricity, and barbecues will be available to evacuees.

“There’s plenty of room. It’s quiet, clean and safe,” Ashauer said. “We’re ready to go for anyone in their time of need.”

Swan River man makes farm available

Ryan Hofford, 43, decided to open his Swan River farm, 300 kilometres south of Flin Flon, to evacuees when he heard some were sleeping in cars because local hotels were full.

“I don’t think that’s right, and we can do a little more to help them,” Hofford told the Free Press.

He is making extra rooms in his home available, and setting up cots and air mattresses in his heated shop if more space is needed. Hofford has also offered his 1,200-acre farm for any evacuees’ animals.

He already had people respond after making a post on a Facebook group for evacuees Friday. Hofford said it’s nice to see how Manitobans are rallying to help.

“They’ve been asked to leave everything they have and everything they’ve known,” Hofford said. “It’s just right to help them through this difficult time.”

Free chili lunch in St. Vital gym

A church’s social-justice group is holding a free lunch for evacuees in St. Vital on Sunday.

The chili lunch, organized by St. Vital Catholic Church’s Loaves and Fishes group, is happening at the St. Maurice School (1639 Pembina Hwy.) gym at 12:30 p.m.

The playground will also be opened to kids.

AMC launches donation drive

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs has launched a donation drive for wildfires evacuees.

The AMC’s First Nations Family Advocate Office is collecting new or gently used clean items. The list of accepted items includes clothing, towels and washcloths, baby-care supplies, feminine hygiene products, phone chargers, power banks, games, books and puzzles. The full list is available at wfp.to/donationdrive.

Items can be dropped off at the AMC offices at 200-286 Smith St. between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

B’nai Brith Canada is collecting donations of essential supplies at its Kavod Thrift Store at 531 Notre Dame Ave. A list is available at wfp.to/bnaibrith.

The store will be open extended hours, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday. It will be closed Monday and Tuesday for the Jewish holiday of Shavuot.​ Reception of donations will resume at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Indigenous gathering postponed amid fires

The Indigenous History and Heritage Gathering, which had been scheduled to take place at Winnipeg’s convention centre this Monday through Wednesday, has been postponed.

“While we share this news with regret, the people of Manitoba must come first, and we will do our part to support all efforts to ensure the health and safety of evacuees forced to leave their homes and communities. This includes relinquishing our reserved conference lodgings to accommodate evacuees who need the space,” the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and the First Nations Confederacy of Cultural Education Centres said in a statement Friday.

Registered attendees can get a full refund or carry their registration forward to the rescheduled event. More instructions will be shared by email in the coming days.

The gathering brings together residential school survivors, storytellers, knowledge keepers and other community members.

Free CMHR admission for evacuees

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is offering free admission to wildfire evacuees starting Friday.

“In moments of great difficulty, we have an opportunity to be there for each other. That’s why we’re taking the step of offering free admission for wildfire evacuees,” CMHR CEO Isha Khan said in a news release.

“As folks come to Winnipeg, and are staying in temporary shelters or with family or friends, we hope this can provide a good way to take their mind off things as they wait to hear news of their homes and communities.”

The museum is always free for all Indigenous visitors, and for all visitors on the first Sunday of every month, including this Sunday.

Union donates $20,000

The Steelworkers Humanity Fund is donating $20,000 to help people and communities evacuated because of recent wildfires.

Many United Steelworkers union members have been affected by evacuation orders, including nearly all members of USW Locals 7106 and 9338 in Flin Flon, a news release said Friday. USW Local 7499 members in the Lac du Bonnet area have been forced off work at the local mine for two weeks because of a nearby fire.

The donation is in response to an appeal sent by the Canadian Red Cross.

USW members contribute to the fund — a registered charity that focuses primarily on development projects and emergency aid in developing countries — through clauses negotiated into collective agreements. In some cases, employers make matching contributions to the fund.

Donations pour in to Brandon groups

Brandon Indigenous groups have rallied to find donations for evacuees.

Lisa Ramsey, a co-ordinator at the preschool Little Teaching Lodge, said the donations have been streaming in from the community.

“My phone has been ringing non-stop, with everyone asking the same question: ‘How can I help,’” Ramsey said. “It shows that the community has strong connections when helping during this crisis.”

People have dropped off summer clothing and food donations, along with strollers, at the Elspeth Reid Family Resource Centre in Brandon, Ramsey said.

Ramsey said they’re gathering as many supplies as they can to host a giveaway event and feast for the evacuees at the preschool on Thursday.

“One of the things we know people miss after evacuating is some good home cooking,” she said.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca