After escaping wildfires in northern Manitoba this summer, Grade 12 student Tasha Napoakesik had hoped to return home before the school year commenced. However, she finds herself preparing for school in Brandon, while eagerly anticipating a swift return to Lynn Lake.
Navigating a new city with unfamiliar teachers and classmates has presented challenges for Napoakesik. Despite adjusting to the change, thoughts of home remain ever-present.
Expressing her outlook, Napoakesik remarked, “I prefer not to worry until it’s necessary. Things are constantly evolving, so I adapt and give my best effort.”
Having been evacuated from her community in May, Napoakesik briefly returned in July for ten days before being relocated to Brandon.
Napoakesik is among over 70 fire evacuee students enrolled with Brandon School Division. The division, led by Superintendent Mathew Gustafson, is equipped to accommodate up to 200 students. Planning began in June as the magnitude of the wildfires suggested prolonged displacement for families.
In a similar effort, Winnipeg School Division had Sargent Park Elementary hosting 20 students temporarily. St. James-Assiniboia School Division collaborated with Mathias Colomb Cree Nation to secure instructional space in three schools, catering to displaced students from various communities.
Gustafson acknowledged the spectrum of emotions families may experience, emphasizing the apprehension of some due to the new environment and school for their children.
This school year marks an unprecedented level of wildfire impact for Brandon School Division, as stated by Gustafson. Students from kindergarten to Grade 8 will be accommodated at King George and Riverview schools, while older students will attend Ecole Secondaire Neelin or Vincent Massey high schools.
To manage fluctuating enrollment, the division implemented flexible intake procedures, enlisted additional education assistants, and established contingency classrooms. With a need for 16 more classrooms, spaces such as libraries and music rooms are being repurposed for educational use.
Class configurations are being tailored to mimic those of students’ home schools, fostering a sense of familiarity with peers in the new setting.
Importance of Normalcy
Don McCallum, CAO of Marcel Colomb First Nation, stressed the significance of normalcy for students amid the upheaval. He highlighted the challenges faced by students in adapting to the unfamiliar environment and system in Brandon.
With a delay in re-entry due to a transformer failure at the community’s water treatment plant, McCallum expressed hope for a prompt return, acknowledging the potential for a sense of starting over upon resuming classes in Lynn Lake.
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