MLA report May 12

Hello Chestermere! It was so wonderful to come home from Edmonton and see our city bustling around the lake, boats out, and ice cream and cold drinks in the hands of friends walking down the pathways. The sound is music to my ears. It is a beautiful community that lives, plays and works together. It is bitter sweet though for many of us with friends and families escaping the Fort McMurray fires, and the equally prominent lumps in our throats as we sit and listen to or watch every newscast hoping…for hope. When we look at the pictures it feels surreal. We hear the stories of people who ran out of gas because they were running from their homes, and were stuck on the side of the highway for up to two days without water or food. For people who could not get back to collect their family pets because they were moved directly out of worksites to safety, the tears are inevitable. Yet, the spirit of this great province grows and grows larger than any wild fire could ever be. I am consumed with this #Alberta Strong everywhere I turn. It does not die, and it does not waver. It will never be put out. The fires will subside, and as Brian Jean said “We will rebuild this city better than ever.”
How does one thank the Fire Fighters, EMS, RCMP, and other emergency services? How about the hamlet of Lac La Biche for taking care of 7000-9000 evacuees, almost 4X their population. How do we thank the volunteers who stayed in the inferno to help others get out? How do we thank the friends that drove right into the thick of things with gas for those stranded? We do what Albertans do and we keep that circle going. We take inspiration from the folks around us and continue to give with money, necessary items, prayers, love and the Alberta Spirit. We know this because many of us have experienced this first hand ourselves, most recently during our floods last year. We know that Albertans will drop everything to come running to help complete strangers without thinking.
The fires and the trauma, the stories of 88,000 plus people leaving their homes and memories are just the beginning of this journey. We will be in this together for a long time. The children who drove through 100 foot flames crying to their parents in the back seats of their cars asking if they were going to die are going to need every bit of love and support we can muster. The families that come home to bits of ash and soot that was once their home are going to need our help. They will be overwhelmed, but they are alive and safe and that blessing cannot be understated. We will do as Albertans always do and be available to our neighbours in Fort McMurray. I am so proud to be Albertan! I am so proud of the residents of the City of Chestermere for their selfless and enduring generosity. We look forward to seeing you on Friday May the 13th at our own homegrown fundraiser for Fort Mac. Let show them how it’s done Chestermere! You can drop off silent auction items and other donations at our office and as always we love to hear from you!