4 yr old Ft Mac Evacuee Celebrates Birthday at St. Paul Reception Centre

In the midst of the chaos resulting from evacuating his home in Fort McMurray, a four year old boy was able to celebrate his birthday in St. Paul. “Today was a great day,” reports Director of Emergency Management for the Region of St. Paul, Rob Duffy, “we (Reception Center Team) got to help a four yearr old boy celebrate his birthday!”

“Colten Lamontange is an evacuee from Ft. McMurray,” Duffy explains the boy was supposed to celebrate his 4^th birthday today with his friends. “Instead, he was displaced from his home with his mom and dad, Robert and Sharon, and found their way to St. Paul.” Duffy said as soon as the volunteers found out it was the little guy’s birthday they stepped up and threw his a party worthy of his grand age. “We couldn’t let this young fellow not celebrate his birthday, so we had some gifts picked up, wrapped, a cup cake with a candle, and the whole team sang him happy birthday.”

To see him open his gifts and blow out the candle definitely made our day, his and his families. It’s the least we could do for them. – Rob Duffy Director of Emergency Management St. Paul Region

The St. Paul Rec Centre is an official Reception Centre for any Fort McMurray & area evacuees. Evacuees are asked to register with Red Cross or a Reception Centre so the Provincial Government knows where people are staying and that they are safe. The St. Paul centre has registered over 500 evacuees, reports Director of Emergency Management. for the St. Paul Region, Rob Duffy.

No evacuees are staying at the reception at this time; however, Duffy reports volunteers have been assisting evacuees in other ways, “no one is staying at the reception center. We are only seeing evacuees during the day, and seeing evacuees coming in for meals.” Duffy says the hours have changed from 24 hours a day to 15 hours, from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm. As the number of evacuees needing to register decreases the centre will be able to move from the Rec Centre, explains Duffy, “The plan on Monday is to hopefully close the reception center and run what we need to from the Town/County FCSS Offices.”

The volunteer force and donations have been amazing, Duffy says, “We are doing well with food and donations. The team got to see firsthand why we put a donations mgmt. policy in place. We started to get loads of used clothes, some good, some not so good. We put a stop to it very quick. We are only accepting cash or gift cards at this time.”

As for other children evacuees, Duffy says St Paul Regional Education Division (SPERD) has opened its doors to welcome any students to any of its schools, “We have a few evacuees that will be attending the schools in St. Paul so they can finish off the remainder of their school year. The school division is meeting with the families on Monday morning to make the arrangements.”

For evacuees who have not registered with the Red Cross or at a Check in Centre, or Reception Centre, it is important to do so. The Government has announced it is providing $1250 per adult evacuee and $500 per child. By registering the Government will be able to know where to send the money, where you are staying, and that you are safe. In St. Paul, the Rec Centre is located on 47th avenue & 53rd street. Lakeland area check in locations include the Centennial Centre in Bonnyville and FCSS in Cold Lake.