Alberta Town Struggles to Shoulder Wildfire Evacuation Burden

For six summers, High Level, Alberta, has used its arena as a wildfire evacuation center. Municipal staff managed the center, but the town has decided not to host evacuees this year due to the strain on resources. Mayor Crystal McAteer cited the increasing frequency and severity of wildfires and difficulties in recovering costs from higher levels of government.

This situation highlights challenges faced by municipalities in Canada's wildfire response. While provinces and territories primarily manage evacuations, reimbursement policies vary. In Alberta, host communities are generally reimbursed by the displaced community, which then seeks provincial funding.

Whitecourt, another Alberta town, has hosted evacuees without needing a dedicated center. Other provinces, like British Columbia, directly compensate host communities. Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, successfully managed evacuees with support from the Red Cross and the province.

High Level's mayor advocates for a dedicated evacuation center with increased government support, believing it could operate efficiently.