EnterpriseSA国际影视传媒檚 2024 spring carnival was a sorely needed opportunity for celebration in a community that has been through more than most over the last few months.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was just great fun,SA国际影视传媒� said Sandra McMaster, who became the communitySA国际影视传媒檚 new mayor in mid-February. SA国际影视传媒淲e had great support. We had a lot of our neighbours show up from Fort Smith and Hay River, too.SA国际影视传媒�

EnterpriseSA国际影视传媒檚 carnival occurred outside the community hall on Saturday. There were about 50 people in attendance over the course of the day, the mayor estimated.

That would have been difficult to imagine late last summer, when residents were evacuated due to the wildfires that ultimately destroyed the majority of buildings in town.

Many of those residents have yet to return home, because there are only a few homes left standing.

In the months since, insured residents have been busy dealing with insurance companies, while those who didnSA国际影视传媒檛 have insurance are being helped by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA).

At the same time, MACA has contracted Colliers Project Leaders to handle the substantial task of cleaning up burned lots and clearing out the charred debris that has littered the town since the fires.

Colliers publishes a weekly newsletter to keep residents both in and out of the community apprised of the clean-upSA国际影视传媒檚 progress. According to its latest newsletters, the company has already hauled out asbestos and contaminated soil, and has recently been working on the removal of a local silo, along with the de-polluting of burned vehicles.

The removal of other materials like concrete, scrap metal and tires is still on the to-do list, while SA国际影视传媒渢he majority of the treesSA国际影视传媒� in the community will also need to be taken down, as they are likely to be killed by the damage they sustained in the fire, even if they currently appear healthy.

SA国际影视传媒淚t really was a slow startup with getting all the environmental studies done, and getting everything just in the right order for MACA and Colliers,SA国际影视传媒� said McMaster. SA国际影视传媒淚 wish it would go quicker, but thereSA国际影视传媒檚 just a lot of work to do.

SA国际影视传媒淭he biggest challenge that I can see is just getting our people back, and supporting each other and looking after each other,SA国际影视传媒� she added. SA国际影视传媒淓verybody is going through really big challenges and everybodySA国际影视传媒檚 situations are different.SA国际影视传媒�

McMaster couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 say how long it will take for Enterprise to return to normal, noting that SA国际影视传媒渋tSA国际影视传媒檚 going to be different for everyoneSA国际影视传媒� depending on whether their homes were insured or not. However, she hopes that most of the cleanup will be completed by this summer, at which point the great task of rebuilding can begin in earnest.

Jennifer Young, a spokesperson for MACA, corroborated that estimate, noting that the department SA国际影视传媒渁nticipates having all of the clean-up it is overseeing completed by the end of June.SA国际影视传媒�

The complex situation in Enterprise has created confusion and frustration among residents, some of whom have pointed fingers at MACA, while others have been critical of the hamlet office, including McMasterSA国际影视传媒檚 predecessor, Michael St. Amour.

Those feelings have been exacerbated by the rapid approach of another fire season. While efforts have been made to safeguard Enterprise against the threat of future fires, apprehension remains about the possibility of further devastation.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think a lot of people have a mixture of feelings on that,SA国际影视传媒� said McMaster. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 really the unknown. ISA国际影视传媒檓 still worried about it. I still have faith that weSA国际影视传媒檝e already burned, so we shouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 burn anymore, but ISA国际影视传媒檓 worried about the smoke, and the hot spots that are burning underneath everything.

SA国际影视传媒淚t would just be nice to have one summer with no problems.SA国际影视传媒�

McMaster admits her first few months as mayor have been SA国际影视传媒渟tressful,SA国际影视传媒� as SA国际影视传媒渁ngerSA国际影视传媒� continues to smoulder in the community, even months after the last fires fizzled out.

However, she believes that anger is outweighed by the resilience of her fellow residents SA国际影视传媒� resilience that was on full display at the carnival, where adults mingled and caught up over cups of tea, and children scampered around between games of egg toss and log toss.

SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 why I got involved for our people,SA国际影视传媒� the new mayor said. SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 been a lot of anger in the community, but thereSA国际影视传媒檚 also been a lot of support in the community, too. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 what makes it all worthwhile: the people.

SA国际影视传媒淏eing at the carnival, it was really a joy to see the kids back in our community and running around and throwing those logs. Even if they didnSA国际影视传媒檛 get the logs very far, it was still great fun seeing everybody back together.SA国际影视传媒�