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The Adult and Teen Challenge of Central Canada campus in Denare Beach, Sask., has been destroyed by wildfire.
The confirmation came shortly after 11:30 Tuesday morning, following a CHVN interview with regional director Allen Lagore earlier in the day. At the time of the interview, around 10:30 a.m., Lagore said they were still awaiting word on the status of their property.
"We don't have exact reports. We know that there was a lot of loss of homes and buildings," he said at the time. "We're still waiting to see if our facility is still there."
An evacuation order remains in effect for the Village of Denare Beach after a wildfire tore through the northern Saskatchewan community Monday evening, forcing essential staff, volunteer fire departments, and other emergency personnel to leave overnight.
Adult and Teen Challenge Canada has been helping people in Northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan overcome addiction for 15 years with its Denare Beach location. Their live-in men's program housed up to 10 men at a time.
Last week, as the wildfire grew dangerously close, the organization evacuated its staff and students.
"We had to move our students and staff out of the community," said Lagore. "We took our students down to Steinbach to one of our other facilities, and our staff are a little bit scattered right now, but most of them were with the students in Steinbach helping to run the program. They're safe, and that's what matters right now."
The organization has two locations in the area—the main campus and a secondary site that includes a shop and other facilities. While the campus has been confirmed lost, there is concern that the shop and staff housing may also have been destroyed. Lagore said confirmation is still pending.
"There are a lot of reports. There's a lot of speculation, but at this time, we don't know what condition everything is in there," he said during the earlier interview. "We just feel our hearts are really broken. We love our community, and so many people have lost their homes. It's truly heartbreaking, this whole situation."
While they grieve the loss, Lagore is asking for prayer, not just for Adult and Teen Challenge, but for the entire community.
"We're all safe. Praise God for that, but at the same time, losing all your memories and losing your homes is so sad for so many," said Lagore. "For Teen Challenge, you can pray for our men. For them, that was their home too."
Anyone interested in helping the Adult and Teen Challenge Canada Denare Beach facility can donate here.