Photo courtesy Alberta Wildfire.

By Tanner Smith and Curtis Galbraith

GPREP

Evacuation Reception Centre moves location, laundry service for Jasper evacuees

Jul 30, 2024 | 6:00 AM

Grande Prairie Regional Emergency Partnership has provided a fifth update for Jasper evacuees.

The reception centre has now been moved from Bonnett’s Energy Centre to the Holiday Inn & Suites.

There are 300 evacuees currently registered in Grande Prairie.

Mayor Jackie Clayton says that doesn’t mean all 300 are still in Grande Prairie.

“People are being rerouted, as you know, through Prince George and around through Calgary and so, when they realize where they need to check in, their options are Grande Prairie, Edmonton, or Calgary.”

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“We’ve had people come, get settled, file (their) paperwork and then move on to other family and friends. There are approximately 140 hotel people and guests in our community.”

The City’s Dan Lemieux says the initial ask was to house people for a week. That was extended until August 7, and there could be a request for another extension.

“I don’t believe that the plans have been firmed up in terms of when people can return to Jasper, so, if we are requested to host our evacuees longer, we’ll certainly do that.”

Lemieux says some people forced to leave Jasper were frustrated by the long detour to Prince George to get to Grande Prairie.

“Some people chose to stay in Valemount, hoping that they could go back home quickly. They realized after a few days they weren’t going home, so they did make the trip to Grande Prairie, which is a lengthy trip.”

“Obviously, the night that news broke that the fire had entered the townsite was a very stressful evening for our guests, so we did provide some mental health supports through Alberta Health Services.”

Lemieux says people seem to be coping as best they can.

He adds the idea of having people check in is so officials know they are not stranded somewhere and that everyone is accounted for.

Lemieux also says the city will be submitting a Disaster Relief Program application to the province to get a refund on some or all the money the city has spent housing people from Jasper. The province will deal with Ottawa on any possible federal help.

Laundry Service for Jasper Evacuees

Crouse’s Cleaning will be providing laundry service to all evacuees moving forward.

Any evacuees staying in the Holiday Inn & Suites, Holiday Inn Express, and Stanford Inn are invited to leave their laundry at the front desk before 10 a.m., and it will be returned the next day.

For other evacuees, walk-in laundry service will be provided at Crouse’s Cleaner’s, They will just need their ID or a GPREP wristband.