Athabasca News

A clean village is a happy village. Thanks to the collaborative effort of local volunteers, council members and organizer Marilyn Meichel, Boyle’s clean-up day was a rousing and fruitful success.

A call for volunteers has been issued by government officials to help move the vast amount of donations that have flooded into the Athabasca Regional Multiplex during the Slave Lake wildfire tragedy.

Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach speaks to Slave Lake evacuees while visiting the temporary shelter at the Athabasca Regional Multiplex last week.

The Athabasca Multiplex has been a buzz of activity since the Slave Lake evacuation, and two notable politicians saw that for themselves last weekend.

Fort McMurray-Athabasca MP Brian Jean visited the Regional Multiplex Saturday afternoon. During his travels throughout the region he has heard some positive feedback from those affected by the wildfires in and around Slave Lake.

The generosity of the Athabasca community has turned up around every street corner during the past few days.

Last Sunday afternoon, fire broke out in the backcountry by Ellscott, a hamlet near the Village of Boyle. The fire raged uncontrolled overnight Sunday and all day Monday.

Talk of municipal amalgamation turned to silence last Tuesday, as Athabasca town council declined to make a motion to formally explore the idea.

Several fires tore through the local countryside last weekend, and some continue to rage as prevailing winds and warm temperatures compound the danger level.

With a swift call to action, the Athabasca community has opened its doors and its hearts to the evacuees of the fire that is devastating Slave Lake.