Calgary makes changes to operating hours at Jasper wildfire evacuee centre

Residents and visitors to Jasper were forced to evacuate due to a rapidly approaching wildfire one week ago. Since then, thousands have made their way to Calgary and the city’s evacuation centre.

But, the city said Monday the hours of the reception centre at 1515 Home Road NW are changing. Starting today, the reception centre hours have changed to 8 a.m. to 12 a.m.

However, officials say supports will still be available for those who arrive at the centre outside of the posted hours and adjustments will be based on necessity and the number of evacuees arriving.

Calgary came under fire early in its wildfire response for temporarily closing the reception centre to evacuees after very few people showed up the day before.

Mayor Jyoti Gondek apologized to those who were faced with closed doors, as did Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) Chief Sue Henry.

The city ultimately said the brief closure last Wednesday was a result of a scheduling change prompted by a lack of evacuees to the centre last Tuesday night.

The centre was reopened to evacuees around 11 p.m. after about 20 minutes of being closed, according to the city, and stayed open overnight.

Updates ahead from province

As of Monday morning 1,388 evacuees have registered in Calgary.

Evacuees are encouraged to register with the province.

Albertans can tune in to a telephone town hall hosted by the province tonight online or by phone at 1-833-380-0691. The audio from the update will be streamed at the Shouldice Reception Centre.

There will be no Alberta Government representative on site at the evacuation centre during this update. City officials say this is not a facilitated session and evacuees still have to call in to ask their questions.

Information for evacuees on support payments and how to apply can be found on the province’s website.

The city says members of Canada Task Force 2 are still on the ground in Jasper helping in the wildfire response.