Manitoba agencies working to protect wildfire evacuees who may be vulnerable to drug dealers, exploitation

Felix Robinson says he felt called to step up and provide a familiar face for Manitoba wildfire evacuees in the midst of chaos and fear of the unknown, as local officials scramble to protect vulnerable people far from their homes.

Robinson, 28, is a full-time First Nation safety officer in Pimicikamak Cree Nation. He was already in the northern city of Thompson with his wife, two daughters and newborn son when their home community was ordered to evacuate on May 28.

"It's hard watching that, mostly when you're not there to help," he told CBC News. "I didn't want to sit around — it's boring sitting around in a hotel room."

The help was desperately needed, with hundreds of evacuees flooding into Thompson, a city with a population of more than 13,000.

Anthony McInnis, Thompson's city manager, says those evacuees were being targeted.

"We saw people trying to sell drugs, try to take people downtown, try to take people to party and try to get people into trouble, so we really felt we had to do something to provide safety in the [evacuation] facility," McInnis said.

But the four community safety officers in the city were soon overwhelmed and couldn't keep up, said Thompson Mayor Colleen Smook. They asked the province to fast track help from four First Nations, bringing in nine safety officers to work alongside them.

As out-of-control wildfires burn around Manitoba, evacuation orders are in place for several communities and more than 18,000 people have now been evacuated, according to the province's latest fire bulletin.

With a large Indigenous population in Thompson and among the evacuees, Smook says it's important that their voices are also at the table.

"We want to try giving them a little bit of hope and a little bit of, you know, calmness right now in the midst of all their turmoil."

There are patrols circling the evacuation centre in Thompson, who  conduct bag and luggage checks, and prevent intoxicated people from coming in. They'll also do outreach to help bring people to the centre, said Smook.

'Make sure our people are protected': grand chief

About 650 kilometres to the south, Manitoba's largest city is also taking measures to protect those who had to flee.

Winnipeg police spokesperson Jon Lutz says there are 14,000 wildfire evacuees currently registered in the city. Police have so far received about 70 calls at the various shelters and hotels where evacuees are staying, which is a relatively low number, he said at a Thursday news conference.

Even so, police have put more officers on the streets, who have conducted over 150 proactive visits with wildfire evacuees, said Lutz. Their main message to evacuees is to call police when they need help, he said.

"We're better able to assist when we are notified of issues when they are happening, and not later on."

Garrison Settee, grand chief of the northern First Nation advocacy organization Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, says women and children are the most vulnerable during wildfire evacuations.

Thompson brings in safety officers to keep wildfire evacuation centre safe

2 days ago

Duration 2:44

With thousands of people forced out of their home communities in northern Manitoba due to wildfires, some are at risk of being exploited in the cities where they're temporarily staying. The city of Thompson, which is hosting hundreds of evacuees, has brought in First Nation safety officers to help keep the local evacuation centre safe.

"This is not the first evacuation of our people into the city, and we've heard stories — from previous evacuations — that there were people going around trying to find people to sell drugs to, or also trying to apprehend young women," he said at the news conference.

"This is a proactive effort," rather than a reactionary one, said Settee. "So this is making that step to make sure our people are protected."

Police say they've printed off 3,000 pamphlets with emergency contacts and tips for staying safe in an unfamiliar place, which are being handed to evacuees.

Supt. Bonnie Emerson, who is with Winnipeg Police Service community engagement, says the pamphlets are intended to deter anyone "looking to exploit or prey upon vulnerable people coming into Winnipeg who may not be aware of the resources and supports available to them."

"We want to make sure that we're doing two things: having a proactive response [and] making sure that we're here for community safety," she said at Thursday's news conference.

Police have also had extra officers making daily visits to a Leila Avenue site for evacuees and hotels where evacuees are staying. Emerson said some of the 70 calls police have received were safety related, but no charges were laid.

But exploitation can occur in the span of a conversation, and "when there are calls for service, we will respond and we will investigate," she said.

"My message for Winnipeg residents is: have compassion," said Emerson. "Pay attention to what's happening in Manitoba, look at the sites that are supporting relatives from the north."

Winnipeg police, Indigenous leaders working to stop people from preying on evacuees

2 days ago

Duration 1:40

Winnipeg police and RCMP say they want wildfire evacuees to know there are resources to keep them safe while they're displaced from their home communities. Winnipeg police say they're taking a proactive approach to prevent the evacuees from being targeted by drug dealers or others who might exploit them.

Find the latest wildfire information:

• Canadian wildfire map
• Province of Manitoba fire bulletins
• CBC's wildfire tracker
• Communities under evacuation in Manitoba

Are you an evacuee who needs assistance? Contact Manitoba 211 by calling 211 from anywhere in Manitoba or email 211mb@findhelp.ca.