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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2005-11-16, Page 6Page 6 November 16, 2005 • The Huron Expositor News Papples help evacuees from Kashechewan Seaforth family trave s to Sudbury with Red Cross to run shelters for Cree evacuees Susan H u n d e r t m a r k As residents of the Cree reserve of Kashechewan were evacuated from their James Bay community several weeks ago, Seaforth's Tyler and Summer Papple were in Sudbury helping to settle the 255 sent to live there for the winter. Red Cross volunteers, the Papples were responding to a call from the aid organization to help the evac- uees. "We're highly trained volunteers and we thought it would be an interesting experience. It's good to be able to help," says Tyler of his family's 11 days in Sudbury. The first few days in Sudbury in late October were hectic for the Papples as Tyler was asked to become team leader of the Sudbury Red Cross operation and Summer took over the leadership of one of several shelters in the city. They were also the only volun- teers to bring along their children, Oliver and Lacey, who mostly stayed with Summer as she ran the shelter. A huge hockey tournament filled most of the hotel rooms in Sudbury when the evacuees first arrived, so shelters were set up in empty for- mer school buildings, police and fire training facilities and dorms used by travelling railway workers. The Red Cross provided cots, bed- ding, towels and basic hygiene sup- plies at the shelters. . Since the Kashechewan residents were fleeing their community because of drinking water contami- nated by e -coli bacteria and high levels of chlorine, all of the evacuees went through a medical exam at a temporary hospital and Red Cross volunteers / helped out pro- viding refresh- ments. "There were health concerns and a lot of stress due to the evacuation. People were leaving their homes and they didn't know when they were going to return," says Tyler. The Red Cross volunteers Sudbury Branc Disaster S - vic submitted photo Tyler, Summer, Lacey and Oliver Papple, along with Jenny Wright, (at left) another key Red Cross volunteer from the Owen Sound area, stand in front of the Canadian Red Cross, Sudbury Branch, Disaster Services Trailer. bers were sent to Sudbury, Ottawa, Timmins and Sault Ste. Marie. "Registration `There were health concerns and a lot of stress due to the evacuation. People .were leaving their homes and didn't know when they were going to return,' -- Tyler Papple, of Seaforth also registered all of the evacuees so that separated fam- ily members would be able to find each other. While only half of the community was evacuated, mem- enquiry is something the Red Cross is known for internation- ally. Some families ended up being split up because some of the people were out hunting when the evacuation started. They were stillbringing people out by Nov. 3," he says. Other jobs for the Red Cross vol- unteers included distributing cloth- ing vouchers to the evacuees who had not brought enough clothing for an extended stay and just helping people cope with the evacuation. Summer says most of the adults were fluent in English but most .of the children still spoke only Cree. Despite the language barriers, she says her children still had no trou- ble playing with the Kashechewan kids and they accompanied the evacuated children trick or treating on the nearby Whitefish Reserve for Halloween. "Costumes were donated by a local business and three city bus- loads of parents and kids went trick or treating. My kids stood out with their blond hair and white faces. It was a great experience," says Summer. As room became available at Sudbury hotels , the need for shel- ters decreased and the Papples were soon out of a job. They returned home last week but say they are planning to take on similar jobs with the Red Cross in the future. "It was stressful at times but I enjoyed the challenge," says Summer. "It's an opportunity to play a role you wouldn't in everyday life and I got to meet people I wouldn't have otherwise." "I felt we did a good job," she says. Tuckersmith hopes to offer daycare at Huron Centennial From Page 1 Consitt said the daycare staff has been battling the deficit for several years and is now organiz- ing three to four fundraisers a year to offset expenses. "We're doing everything we can to save the daycare," she said.