Last Friday, Portage la Prairie opened its doors to more than 250 wildfire evacuees from northern Manitoba. As evacuation demands and limited space continue to challenge the province, the city has stepped up to offer shelter and solidarity during these uncertain times.
While Portage is not leading the overall evacuation effort, it has become an important link in the province-wide response. The Manitoba Department of Families remains the lead agency, with support from the Canadian Red Cross and other provincial partners. However, on the ground, Mayor Sharilyn Knox says Portage's focus has been on communication, coordination, and community engagement.
“That’s one role that the city has taken on,” Mayor Knox says. “Portage la Prairie is a temporary evacuation site, right now mainly based out of CanadInns and stretching a bit beyond that. We’ve made it our job to be the communicator for our city. We want our citizens to have accurate, up-to-date information, so they know how to help and what’s happening in our community.”
In the early hours of the response, the rapid arrival of evacuees created a wave of concern and uncertainty. But as the dust settled, the generosity of the community came into full view. Donations poured in, and volunteers offered their time and resources. Now, with changing conditions, city officials are requesting more specific, urgently needed items to support evacuees.
A revised donation list was issued today. All items must be new, unopened, and with tags, and can be dropped off at City Hall, open until 7 p.m. today:
- Underwear (all sizes)
- Socks (all sizes)
- Kids’ bathing suits (all sizes)
- Cold medicine
- Enfamil A+ Formula (Stage 1)
- Poligrip
- Polysporin
- Travel-size shampoo & conditioner (unscented if possible)
- Travel-size or sample-size deodorant
- Other travel-size toiletries
- Peanut-free, pre-packaged individual snacks (including diabetic-friendly options)
- Diaper cream
- Children’s cough syrup
- Pull-ups (sizes 3, 5, 6 & 7)
- Swim diapers
- Juice boxes
- Pedialyte
- Tums
- Pepto-Bismol
- Tylenol Cold & Sinus
- Kleenex
- AA batteries
- Crossword books
“We’re good for clothing. Thank you for being generous, but hold on to it for now,” she says.
The city is also reminding donors that, due to food safety regulations, homemade food or treats cannot be accepted.
As efforts continue, the community’s support remains strong. Local organizations and businesses have stepped in to help meet the needs of the evacuees. Southern Health is on-site, offering both medical and emotional care. The Portage Community Revitalization Corporation (PCRC) is coordinating volunteers, while the Family Resource Centre is running activities to help children feel a sense of normalcy in unfamiliar surroundings.
Meanwhile, some evacuees have begun relocating to other temporary accommodations in Winnipeg and Ontario as new space becomes available across the province.
“There’s always misinformation out there,” Knox says. “I was scrolling through social media last night and saw different takes on why people were being moved. The reality is that hotels in other regions have opened up spots, and our province is tight on space. From our standpoint, those who are involved in this evacuation are grateful for other hotels and places that are willing to help out."
As evacuees continue their journey to safety, Portage la Prairie continues to show that even temporary refuge can be grounded in lasting kindness.
“I can’t imagine being in that situation,” she says. “One thing that we all have to remember is to be kind and gentle with people, because they’re going through something that a lot of us maybe never will. I’m grateful that we have such support in our community for people and our province because it’s affecting everyone.”