Title Image
Image
Caption
Denare Beach, Sask. on June 25, 2025, after a category six wildfire ravaged the town and so many homes.
Portal
Title Image Caption
The Adult and Teen Challenge men's addiction recovery program up north is holding onto their faith as they look to rebuild after the devastation of the wildfires. (Linsi Sibakov/Facebook)
Categories

The Adult and Teen Challenge men's addiction recovery program up north is holding onto their faith as they look to rebuild after the devastation of the wildfires. 

"It's very devastating," says Allen Lagore, the Flin Flon Regional Director with Adult and Teen Challenge of Central Canada. "When you first get back to your community and realize that 218 homes have been lost in our community, you see the effects on everybody's lives. It rips your heart out."

The category six fire in the community of Denare Beach, Sask., right beside the border of Manitoba, left nothing of the Adult and Teen Challenge house. The neighbouring community of Flin Flon is an eight-hour drive north of Winnipeg. 

"There's nothing to salvage. Anything in our sea cans for storage, and in some, all that was left was dust."

For the community of Denare Beach, the next step is working through an Environment Assessment, according to Lagore. 

"The clean-ups can start to move ahead here by this weekend. For us to move ahead, means going through everything you had in the building and also trying to reconstruct what the building looked like. Many of the architectural drawings were burned. The process is slow and long."

Live-in Addictions Program

Due to the complete upheaval of living on a property and then having to flee from the wildfires, while the ATC staff would love to get things up and running again, a few students have dropped out. 

"Our hearts are to bring our students home. For that, we might have to look for temporary shelter. Many of our staff are living on the campground that was spared. We're just trying to pick up the pieces and get ready for the next steps of clean up and the rebuild, whatever way that looks."

At the time of the fire, nine men were enrolled in the live-in program at Denare Beach. 

"You want to see everybody that comes be successful. But when those changes happen, it's hard enough for many of them to deal with their addictions, never mind their whole lives being turned over like that. But many of them are staying strong and growing with the Lord.  Our staff are amazing."

The ATC building is covered by insurance; however, this only covers a portion of rebuilding what was lost. ATC has a page available for people interested in donating funds to help them move forward in Denare Beach. 

Leaning on Faith in God

On top of rebuilding their own facility, the ATC staff are helping out community members in any way they can. Samaritans Purse will be coming this week also to take time with the clean up and spiritual support. 

"We're helping them to able to be situated and touch the community with Christ's love. It's overwhelming, the amount of cleanup that has to happen here. Many people in the community are dealing with hurt and anger. Pray for our community to be able to heal from that."

As a Christian addictions recovery program, Lagore shares that the staff is leaning on their faith through this time. 

"We're excited about the future, that God's going to open doors for us, and help us to accomplish that. For us as staff, it's almost been a bonding time. Having to live together and work together through this. Every morning we pray, read the word together, it's been amazing to see our faith grow."

Portal