When the nightmarish images of smoke and fire began to billow out of Fort McMurray, the sting was particularly acute for one local athlete.
Olympic cross-country skier Graeme Killick grew up in Fort McMurray, and his parents, grandparents, and aunts and uncles still live in the community.
“All the videos you see online are places I spent a lot of time. Driving through town, you see buildings that have been there forever that are now gone. It’s quite sad to see. It’s going to be different for a while. I hope there’s a huge rebuilding phase.”
His parents were in Canmore when the evacuation edict was dropped, and they’ve since moved in with their son while awaiting word. The family house survived the fires, but a good chunk of their neighbourhood is gone.
“My parents were on their way there. They were going to leave that day. But then they saw the evacuation notices and didn’t go back,” Killick said. “Thankfully, our house was OK. We live 20 kilometres southeast of the town, past the airport. The fire went through where we live, and it took 20 per cent of the houses in our area, but it missed ours. There are still a lot of hot spots, but the house is OK.”
His grandparents, aunts and uncles were initially evacuated south of the city, but had to move again because of the fire. They are now in Calgary with other family members.
Killick moved to Canmore nine years ago to train with the national team cross-country ski team, and many of his childhood friends are still living in Fort McMurray, including one who is working for the municipal fire department. The two are texting back and forth every day.
“He lost his place in town by the ski trails. He’s been working flat out to exhaustion. They are always heading from one place to the next. They have a good strategy. Initially they lost quite a bit to the fire, but the fire department got on top of it and are really happy they lost fewer buildings,” Killick said.
He said there are still people working to keep the neighbourhood safe from fire, as many are anxious to return and help.
“There are so many people trying to get back to help. The community is quite strong and ready to help. Our neighbours, back in town, are defending the area where I live, making cutlines and making sure things are alright.”
The destruction was hard to take for Killick. Many of the ski trails he learned to ski on are gone, as are the homes of friends. But the tireless effort has put a smile on his face.
“Everyone is helping where they can. It’s good to see the community come together through the catastrophe. All of the love for the city is good to see,” Killick said. “The response has been really encouraging. It’s been amazing and cool to see people get behind Fort McMurray. It’s taken a lot of heat over the years, and become a real political debate, but it’s nice to see the province come together and support it.”
Killick was scheduled to work with several northern ski clubs in a partnership with Suncor at the end of the month, but believes something else will need to be scheduled instead. He’s keen to head up and do what he can to make sure the trails are rebuilt.
The Canmore Nordic Ski Club has contacted the Fort McMurray club, Ptarmigan Nordic, and offered its members places to stay. Killick said the ski community has reached out to him as well, as friends and teammates are always asking him about the fire.
“When I go up, it’s going to be really different. I want to visit and show my support for the community, and the ski club, and help with whatever clean up is possible.
Donations can still be made at www.redcross.ca.
