Sunday, July 30, 2017

Forest Fires and a Reunion, July, 2017

  Sunday, July 30, 2017

     This July's forest fire evacuation to Prince George coincided with the Stettler reunion of my mom's family.  This tale ends with emails about this busy month. 
     More than 40 000 people left their homes in the Cariboo; the largest group was all residents of Williams Lake.  Most went to Kamloops or Prince George.  More than 70 of my relatives, including one from Austin, Texas, met near Stettler.  I knew fewer than half of them; Chelsea knew fewer than 10 of them.  Some Cariboo fire smoke reached the gathering.
     On Wednesday, July 12, Carla, evacuated a couple days earlier from Anaham (800) to Williams Lake (8 000), 100 kilometres east, Chelsea, and I drove from Williams Lake to Prince George (80 000), 240 kilometres north.  Williams Lake was getting pretty smoky, and we heard that it might evacuate if fires threatened to close highways around it.  During the fire crisis, Highway 97 from 65 km south to 45 km north of Williams Lake would close for more than a week, as would Highway 20, west of Williams Lake.  These are the only highways to and from Williams Lake.  We slept that night in the travel trailer of Carla's sister Karen and her husband Harley. Eevacuated from Anaham to the Williams Lake rodeo grounds when Carla left Anaham, they had parked their trailer on the Prince George area acreage of the in-laws of their daughter Jodie.
     On Thursday, July 13, Chelsea and I drove from Prince George to Edson (9 000), 525 km east.  On the way, we stopped at McBride (2 000), 210 km east of Prince George and 150 km west of Jasper.     
     We stopped at McBride because of a CBC Radio One story I had heard a few days earlier.  Local people had gotten regional district permission to set up a rest station in a local hall, for people driving the 800-kilometre route from 100 Mile House through Kamloops and Valemount to Prince George, the 350-kilometre route from 100 Mile House north through Williams Lake to Prince George being closed around Williams Lake due to forest fires.  McBride people in the hall offered showers, places to sleep, and food.  When the 100 Mile House evacuation ended a couple weeks later, the highway was still closed from 65 km south to 45 km north of Williams Lake.  People returning from Prince George evacuation refuges to 100 Mile House therefore went that same long route back, through McBride.  The people interviewed by CBC Radio One in Prince George thought it only broadcast in Northern BC, but I heard it on CBC Radio One Kamloops, which Williams Lake gets.  "You're famous from Fort Nelson to Cranbrook," I told them. 
     Chelsea and I offered toiletries and plastic cutlery to the McBride rest hall people.  People there gave us homemade sandwiches and soup.  As we left, more locals were bringing more food.  On our way back from Stettler to Prince George a few days later, we stopped at McBride.  By then, Williams Lake had evacuated, some to Kamloops, some to Prince George.  Those who went to Prince George, Kamloops being pretty crowded by then, passed through McBride.  "It was pretty busy here that day," a McBride volunteer told us.
     In Edson, we stayed in a motel.  We visited the Royal Canadian Legion Joe Wynne Branch 51, named in 1989 after my dad, a World War Two Royal Canadian Navy veteran and Legion supporter.  The Legion displays Dad's photo and an Edmonton Journal article about his war experiences.  In the Edson tourist information centre, we met staffer Miriam, born near Cobh, Ireland.  My sister Maryanne house-sat in Crosshaven, near Cobh; hence the emails about that below.  Miriam plans to honor my dad on Remembrance Day, 2017 and said she will later ask me for details about his life.  
     That day, Carla and most others on the overcrowded Prince George acreage found other lodging, Carla in the city, Karen's family south of or in the city.  Carla and her sister Bella relocated to the apartment of their sister Florence's sister-in-law Jane, away in Vancouver for a kidney transplant.  Including our evacuated Williams Lake friend Donna and her grandson Alexander, there were now six people in that two bedroom  Prince George apartment.
     On Friday, July 14, Chelsea and I drove from Edson to Stettler (7 000), 350 kilometres southeast.  We stayed in a motel that night and Saturday, July 15.  We attended the reunion on Friday night, all day Saturday, and on Sunday morning, at the farm of one of the children of my first cousin, Judy.  The farm is about 13 km north of Stettler.
     On Saturday, July 15, Williams Lake was evacuated, some to Kamloops, some to Prince George. 
     One reunion highlight was a 1 x 2m piece of cardboard stuck to the outside wall of the garage.  Family members wrote their lines of descent from Norwegian-born Sever Nasbo (with an umlaut, and anglicized to Nasby upon immigration to the United States midwest), and his spouse Margaret (Phipps), my mom's dad Marvel Nasby's parents.  I knew all of Marvel's descendants, who are my uncles, aunts, and first cousins; but I knew few of the younger generations.   My brother Harold and his spouse Joan attended.

     Some first cousins I had not seen for decades attended:  Carol, Diane, Randy, and Buffy.  Others I had seen within the past five years attended:  Terry, Judy, Wayne, Roger, Betty, and Bobby. 
    After the reunion, Chelsea and I drove to Edmonton (1 000 000), 180 km northwest, and stayed in a motel Sunday night, July 16.  Williams Lake was still evacuated; Carla was still in a Prince George apartment without enough room for me and Chelsea.

     Enter Peter Ewart of Prince George.  On Sunday night, he emailed me me, one of the people who gets news from his forestry and economic activism group Stand Up for the North.  His group offered help to fire evacuees.  Chelsea and I sure needed that the next night in Prince George.  Peter and his spouse Dawn Hemingway offered us their basement suite.   
     On Monday, July 17, Chelsea and I drove from Edmonton to Prince George, 800 km west.  Knowing we had somewhere to stay that night in Prince George made this long drive easier.  People without private home billets were staying in the College of New Caledonia or the University of Northern British Columbia, on cots in gyms.

     Chelsea and I would stay in Peter and Dawn's house from Monday night, July 17 until Friday morning, July 28.  Provincial and federal disaster relief money would pay them $30 per night for each of us.  It also entitled us to $22.50 per day each for groceries, $600 each for being away from home, and $300 each resettlement money upon return home.  We also got Red Cross gift credit cards, $140 for Chelsea, $290 for me, given that I have a car to operate.  These generous payments leave us with more money than we had when we left, on July 12, which seems long ago.

     On Thursday, July 27, Williams Lake people were allowed home, but advised to be ready to leave again.  Fires continue to burn near the city, and the smoke in the city irritates the eyes and throat.  On Friday, July 28, there was ash in the air, as there was before our July 12 departure.

     The Canadian military has been in the Cariboo for more than a week:  watching road blocks, helping with transport and supply, and helping emergency and police services generally.  Army trucks crowd the arena parking lot a block from our home.  On Saturday, July 29 here in Williams Lake, I saw emergency vehicles from Fort St. John (18 000), 650 km to the north, and Vancouver, 550 km to the south.

      Saturday, July 29, I checked my employer Loomis' local warehouse.  No freight had come lately, given area highway closures.  The warehouse brimmed with freight that had come that morning:  about 24, rather than the usual 6 or so pallets and cages.  What usually took me about two hours to sort for Monday delivery, about 300 pieces, took me 6.5 hours, about 1 100 pieces.  That was quite a workout.  Williams Lake Loomis courier Jackson, whom I met in a Prince George laundromat where I drove Bella to wash her clothes, said that a whole transport trailer of freight bound for Williams Lake was in Prince George, until the Williams Lake warehouse could hold it.  I suspect freight from the south is also held back until the warehouse has room for it.  What I sorted is therefore not all there is.  Jackson and the other driver John, and perhaps their relief drivers, will be some busy delivering on Monday.  I barely had room to put their freight in its many usual places on Saturday.              
     Emails reach far and wide.  Have 24 sets of emails, a couple or a few per set, that I wrote or received during what became a 17-day absence, 13 of those days in Prince George.  I drove more than 3 300 kilometres.  Driving smoky Highway 20 100 km to Anaham today to help Carla resettle there will be a relief, except for the charred forest along the way.

1.
July ?, Saturday, 2017
Michael,
The fires are still going at Anaham and areas. The winds that were expected previously are coming today. Anaham was having a meeting last night, concerning the expected winds. Everyone is having their emotional melt downs. Karen had one yesterday morning. All want to return home but the roads are open for food and fire fighters only.
Karen wants to head out tomorrow. Leave the fifth wheel for Jodie and crew. She's worried about the horses. I suspect Carl will head out too. I was thinking of jumping out in town. We leave for Vancouver on Wednesday. Time will tell.
The city here has been so awesome to us. The local church had clothing and items to use dropped off for people to take and use. Carl, Harley, Blair and Florine got some great stuff. Flossy picked up some stuff too. Flossy got her $600.00 deposited into her account yesterday. She didn't offer Carl or i any. Bella figured that she should split in three ways. I don't see that happening and told my twin the same. Sad.
I called the Redcross number for Carl and I. They will look at it and email me. It's suppose to be one per household. I disagree, nenqani homes are different. Karen was talking to someone downtown and they want to address these issues on tv. The woman said that Redcross will change their minds once media get the word out. As aboriginals we live in proverb, three generations living together and up to three or more families under the same roof. Karen wants me to be interviewed. She's not sure that she can do it with her job title. It can be done but she has to get a go ahead from the department head. She's telling me to use my  job title. We will see how it unfolds.
Florine is homesick and wants to go home. It's a hard situation. I have to go, go to the washroom and have my coffee. I need it.
I hope you and Chelsea are having great visits. Be well, l love you.
Carla

2. 

Michael
This a great read.
Carla

3.

To:  Williams Lake and 100 Mile House area evacuees on the Stand Up for the North listserve
As you are aware, you are on the Stand Up for the North Committee’s listserve as a result of signing up at forestry meetings that were held in Williams Lake (hosted by the Conservation Society and the Council of Canadians) as recently as this spring, as well as meetings on Bill C-51 in Williams Lake and 100 Mile House a couple of years ago.
Our hearts are with you during this very difficult and stressful time.  If you have evacuated to Prince George from the Williams Lake and 100 Mile House region as a result of the forest fire situation, please feel free to contact us as we would very much like to welcome you to town. 
If you need accommodation or would like to change existing accommodation, we may be able to help.  Furthermore, we are thinking to organize a dinner or two for you at the house of one of our Committee member’s, as well as perhaps show you around Prince George or whatever else you might like to do or need to do. 
We look forward to hearing from you (feel free to phone or email).
All the best.
Peter Ewart
Stand Up for the North Committee
Prince George, BC
(250) 562-0015
   
4.

Peter,

You angel.   We three evacuees need your help.   In Vancouver, you met my spouse Carla and our daughter at Charles' hospice the day before he died.  Carla evacuated to PG, and stayed there while Chelsea and I attended a long- planned Alberta family reunion.  We are in Edmonton, bound for PG Monday.  Where Carla is lacks room for us.  Have you room Monday and Tuesday nights?  We plan a Wednesday-Saturday trip for Carla's work.  Chelsea's cell is 250 267 2227.  We will be in PG Monday by 8 PM.

Michael

 5.

Hi Michael:
 
Welcome to PG.  We have lots of room in our basement and are happy to help out.  It will be great to see you guys. When you get to PG, if you need directions, just give us a phone call.  We'll have some food ready for you.  See you tomorrow night.
 
All the best.
Peter
916 Inez Crescent
Prince George, BC
(250) 562-0015

Peter,

Thank you so much.  You will get 1 to 3 people.  Carla is already in PG, but crowded.  Chelsea and  I hope to call you from the CNC evacuation registration line up by 7 pm Monday. Our Wednesday to Saturday Vancouver trip for Carla's work will take some climate refugee pressure from you and PG.
-Michael, Edmonton Travelodge
Peter,

6.

To

Hi Michael: Just thought we'd provide an alternate phone/cell number - 250-612-7997.
...just in case you can't get through on our home number...‎Calls come regularly :) Hope the line at CNC is not too long! See you soon...
Best Dawn and Peter

7.

Hello from Prince George,

Thanks again for pizza and talk and items to watch or read.  We reached Prince George by 730 pm, registered at the evacuation centre, and emerged with billet claim forms worth $30 per day per each of us until the evacuation ends, payable to our generous hosts, who gave us their two bedroom basement suite.  They fed us spaghetti, and on Tuesday I will wash our clothes in their machine; we ran out of clean clothes.  We also got vouchers for $22.50 per day per person, usable at Superstore.  

The sky is blue here, a surprise.

Michael 

8.

Maryanne,

We reached blue sky Prince George by 730 pm, registered at the evacuation centre at the college, gaining for our hosts a claim for $30 for each night they house each of us, and a voucher for each of us for $22.50, redeemable at Superstore.

They fed us spaghetti and lent us their 2 bdm basement suite.

I do not know when we will be allowed home, but when I know, I will tell you.

Driving the 700 km from Edmonton on Monday, I happily thought of my upcoming Irish trip.

Michael
9.

Hello,

We are comfortable evacuees in the 2 bdm basement suite of a Prince George teacher friend.  Registering at the evacuation centre at the local college gave each of us daily vouchers worth $22.50, redeemable at Superstore, and a claim for our host for $30 for each day he houses each of us.  The sky is blue, the air better than in Williams Lake.  We do not know when we will be allowed home, where our Williams Lake place is intact, like Carla's Anaham family house.

Michael
10.
To
Dear Michael,

Whew! What this is called is a forced vacation -- PG might not be the ideal place, mind you!

Glad you are all safe + sound + your places are all in tact and very sorry to have missed you at the reunion.

Lorraine
11.

My thoughts r with you
(& all people affected by the fires)
Ira
PS on have my experience with house fires to go by, but those were bad enough
12.
To
Hi, 

Thanks for the update.  How was the reunion?  EW
 
Chelsea,

Have what I sent Erlene.

Dad

Erlene,

The reunion was lots of laughs, more than half the 70 or so people were strangers to me, and our small branch, fewer than 10, of Mom's family, was there in the forms of me, Chelsea, Harold, and his spouse Joan.  I saw two first cousins for the first time since 1989, and their sister for the first time since I was little, in the mid-sixties.  Most of my first cousins are older than I.  I knew few of their attending children or grandchildren, and no attending kin of my mom's dad's siblings.

  I know more now ,and I have emails for kin who came from as far away as Austin, Texas.  The 4 x 6 ft cardboard a couple taped to the garage outside wall became a clan chart.  I attach photos of it and of our branch of it.  Highlighted names show attendees.

We are comfortable in the basement suite of my retired ESL teacher friend and his spouse, the UNBC social work chair.  Carla does not want to go to her booked Thu-Fri Vancouver Coast Comox conference on indigenous languages, because we would drive there via Valemount, a long detour around Hwy 97 closures between PG and Cache Creek.

Had we gone, I would have looked for you and Kevin.  

We shall see what happens, and when we will get home.  I am happy that our generous hosts can later claim $30 per day per each of us from disaster relief.  Carla did not attend the reunion, and still stays  with her sister's local in-laws rather than the roomy place where Chelsea and I settled on Monday night, after we came from Alberta.

Chelsea's cell is 250 267 2227.  Telus promised discounts to its evacuated subscribers.  Her bill will tell.

Thanks for your interest in our ordeal.

Michael
13.

Evacuee:  Glad youse are safe in PG.  And that you got decent billet and food vouchers there.  Hope that your anxiety/stress level has come way down after AB and far travelling.  CBC says the fire is now "about 5 km" from WL. Thanks for the interesting stuff you gave us, and have a good trip to the coast.   -DW
14.
 To

How is everyone doing. Please keep us up to date. Sooo glad you made it last weekend, now need to know that you are safe. 💕💕
Terry Connor
15.
 To

Maryanne,

Below this email is one from the Edson Irishwoman.

Prince George people have been fabulous.  At the Tuesday bbq for their 30th wedding anniversary, that exact day, in the campground 10 km south of town, where they stay in their rv, Carla's sister Karen invited nearby evacuees to cake.  One older couple from WLake had been freezing in a tent until a man drove by the day before and offered his camper, which he then towed from his PG home.  

As we 25 bbqed and ate in and around the picnic shelter under smoky skies, three half tons and a minivan came to the packed campground that reminded me of 1930s hobo jungles.  Their drivers offered food, drink, housewares, toys for children, and listening ears for frazzled evacuees.

On our return to PG, Chelsea and I went to the main evac centre for the wristbands we forgot to ask for before.  A WL friend eating free  lunch in the friendship centre restaurant with us and Carla had given us two stapled sheets of laces offering discounts to evacuees with wristbands.  Donna and her grandson were about to relocate from the crowded apartment housing Carla, two of her sisters, and one's husband, to friends at Telkwa, west of PG.  Their lakeside place will offer the pair ample swimming.  Her sheets tell us that we may use for free the two local pools, several public and private fitness centres, and get free or half priced items at various thrift stores.  I will go to the wave pool on Wednesday.

Our host, UNBC social work chair Dawn Hemingway, whose women's group got a  derelict hotel  as a women's shelter, hurried its renovation in time to shelter evacuees first.  She said Donna's list was of outfits joined in the local homeless movement, where Dawn also volunteers. Her spouse Peter Ewart, whom I met when he spoke in WL against bill C51 a few years back, is a retired ESL teacher now in Stand Up for the North, for better jobs and ecology.  I heard him and a forester and an ecologist in WL more recently.

Dawn and Peter found us at Charles' Vancouver deathbed.  I note them because they, like former Edmonton journalist Ed Struzik on CBC One this week, advise better forest and emergency practices, to prevent such big disasters, which cost more, materially and humanly. This fire might bring such improvements.  When a pair see children struggling in a river, one rescues while the other seeks those who are throwing in the children.  Dawn and Peter each do both.

Now to find that wave pool.....

MJW
 
Hi Michael,
 
I know Crosshaven. My brother-in –law runs a company from there. (loc8ate code)
 
We definitely will keep in touch. We’ll be picking your brains.
 
Good talking to you,
Miriam
 
From: cmcwynne [mailto:cmcwynne@yahoo.ca]
Sent: Sunday, July 16, 2017 12:05 AM
To: info@gallowaystationmuseum.com
Subject: Fwd: Cobh and Crosshaven
Miriam,
My sister house sat in Crosshaven.  Read below.  I will go home from Edmonton to Williams Lake on Monday.  Keep in touch about your plans for my dad, Joe Wynne.
Michael Wynne

-------- Original message --------
From: Maryanne Wynne <maryanne.wynne@gmail.com>
Date: 07-16-2017 10:08 AM (GMT+01:00)
To: cmcwynne <cmcwynne@yahoo.ca>
Cc: info@gallowaystationmuseum.com
Subject: Cobh and Crosshaven
Dear Michael and Miriam,
Thanks for the note, Michael.  Cobh is indeed a gorgeous corner of County Cork, and I visited the town a few times, but the place I housesat was actually the small town of Crosshaven, which is in the lower harbour a bit closer to the sea.  The family's name was Duggan and I think the family have lived in Crosshaven for a long time.
PS Don't be fooled by the spelling of Cobh, Michael: it is pronounced "cove," but the bh makes the v-sound, as in the name Siobhan.  And that's the extent of my Irish language skills :-)
Best regards,
Maryanne
On 14 July 2017 at 23:42, cmcwynne <cmcwynne@yahoo.ca> wrote:
Maryanne,
Miriam (Halley) Kirkham, the Cove-born Edson tourist centre woman, wants the name of the people whose place you watched there, near Cork.  I met her while getting a road map.  Her accent got us talking, about Dad when I told her who I was, and about you when I told her about your Irish citizenship and European house sitting. I email this to you in Leipzig and to Mirian in Edson to give you each other's email addresses.  Miriam said that Edson plans a Remembrance Day honor for Dad and she wants to ask for more details about him.
On Mom's side, the Friday night family reunion barbecue near Stettler brought me and Chelsea to 50 or so kin, including Randy, Diane, Betty, and Buffy.  Harold and Joan will be there on Saturday, our second and last night in the local Super 8.
Michael

Hi Michael,

I know Crosshaven. My brother-in –law runs a company from there. (loc8ate code)

We definitely will keep in touch. We’ll be picking your brains.

Good talking to you,
Miriam

From: cmcwynne [mailto:cmcwynne@yahoo.ca]
Sent: Sunday, July 16, 2017 12:05 AM
To: info@gallowaystationmuseum.com
Subject: Fwd: Cobh and Crosshaven

Miriam,

My sister house sat in Crosshaven.  Read below.  I will go home from Edmonton to Williams Lake on Monday.  Keep in touch about your plans for my dad, Joe Wynne.

Michael Wynne

-------- Original message --------
From: Maryanne Wynne <maryanne.wynne@gmail.com>
Date: 07-16-2017 10:08 AM (GMT+01:00)
To: cmcwynne <cmcwynne@yahoo.ca>
Cc: info@gallowaystationmuseum.com
Subject: Cobh and Crosshaven

Dear Michael and Miriam,

Thanks for the note, Michael.  Cobh is indeed a gorgeous corner of County Cork, and I visited the town a few times, but the place I housesat was actually the small town of Crosshaven, which is in the lower harbour a bit closer to the sea.  The family's name was Duggan and I think the family have lived in Crosshaven for a long time.

PS Don't be fooled by the spelling of Cobh, Michael: it is pronounced "cove," but the bh makes the v-sound, as in the name Siobhan.  And that's the extent of my Irish language skills :-)

Best regards,
Maryanne

On 14 July 2017 at 23:42, cmcwynne <cmcwynne@yahoo.ca> wrote:
Maryanne,

Miriam (Halley) Kirkham, the Cove-born Edson tourist centre woman, wants the name of the people whose place you watched there, near Cork.  I met her while getting a road map.  Her accent got us talking, about Dad when I told her who I was, and about you when I told her about your Irish citizenship and European house sitting. I email this to you in Leipzig and to Mirian in Edson to give you each other's email addresses.  Miriam said that Edson plans a Remembrance Day honor for Dad and she wants to ask for more details about him.

On Mom's side, the Friday night family reunion barbecue near Stettler brought me and Chelsea to 50 or so kin, including Randy, Diane, Betty, and Buffy.  Harold and Joan will be there on Saturday, our second and last night in the local Super 8.

Michael
17.

Hello,

Thanks for fun and memories during my and Chelsea's Alberta trip.

The couple who lent us their big, bright basement suite and gave us a key and run of their house are UNBC social work chair Dawn Hemingway and retired teacher Peter Ewart.  The are active in the women's shelter, anti-poverty action, and groups for better jobs, ecology, and civil liberties.  I have known Peter for years.

Carla's sister Karen, in her rv at a full campground 10 km south, had her 30th wedding anniversary yesterday.  About 25 of us bbq-ed and ate in and around the picnic shelter.  An older Williams Lake couple, freezing in tents nearby until a PG man drove through, offered them his trailer, and then towed it there, came for cake, as did other campers.  It was like a 1930s hobo camp.  While we ate, 3 trucks and a minivan came to the campground, with food, drink, housewares, and children's toys.

Evacuees may use for free local pools, gyms, and the bowling alley, and get discounts at many local stores.  The friendship centre restaurant feeds for free, once we show our evac registration sheets or wristbands.  We have vouchers for $22.50 per day each, at Superstore, which we chose, or Walmart or Save On.

Now to find the wave pool....

MJW
18.

Hello,

The military is here, to help this city of 70 000 now host to more than 9 000 fire evacuees.

https://news.princegeorge.ca/Modules/News/index.aspx?newsId=8496b3b8-5fc8-4d66-bf08-06d5e47a0872

Our bright basement suite billet's houseowners gave us a key and have been friendly, like almost all people I met in Prince George.  I went to both local pools for free, we eat for free at the friendship centre or college or university campuses, which also offer snacks, toiletries, and dorm rooms, including for hospital evacuees.  We meet many we know.  

The hockey rink is a sea of cots, but most evacuees are in private homes.  Various churches and thrift stores offer clothes.  Fort Mac people laden with supplies make the 1 200 km trip.

A rancher with 7 horses has 52 now.  Horses, and at least one pig, crowd the fair grounds. A school has 11 dogs and 71 cats.  Beauticians give free manicures.  I don't know about free horseshoeing, but my hooves are fine.

Michael
 




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