Sixty seniors who were forced out of their homes in Calgary and temporarily relocated to the dormitory facilities at Olds College due to recent flooding returned home on July 12.
Sixty seniors who were forced out of their homes in Calgary and temporarily relocated to the dormitory facilities at Olds College due to recent flooding returned home on July 12.
Another 60 seniors still remain at the college and aren’t expected to return home until mid-August, said Craig Cheffins, director of operations for the Trinity Place Foundation, the housing complex where the seniors reside. He said it will probably be mid-August before repairs can be made to Murdock Manor, one of the three complexes that make up Trinity Place, and residents still staying at Olds College can return home.
"So far, we’ve done fairly well. Olds College has been absolutely terrific," he said, noting that while some of the residents went to other accommodations in Calgary, college administrators did a great job in accepting residents.
"We’re very fortunate that Olds (College) has managed to extend accommodations into August for us," Cheffins said.
Linda Peterson, one of the Murdock Manor residents still at the college last week, said she was impressed with Olds’ residents, including staff at the college.
"The people in town here (at) the banks, the stores, they welcome you. They’re great," she said.
Peterson was also impressed that Premier Alison Redford stopped at the college on July 12, talked to the displaced seniors, and called a few bingo numbers.
"We all knew what to kind of expect. She called the first few numbers of the bingo game. She wished us all the best of luck," she said.
Peterson said despite all the hospitality in Olds, she is anticipating returning home.
"I can’t wait to get back home. It’s going to be nice to get back to normal again," she said.
Wayne Martin, another Murdock Manor resident, said while everyone wants to go back home, he’s taking the time away a little more philosophically.
"Everybody wants to be back, but they’re treating us really well here. We’re just hoping that when they get the inspectors in (to Murdock Manor) they can fix it. I really contend we’ll be (away) longer than August 15," he said.
Martin said while there have been confrontations amongst Trinity Place residents while at Olds College, that is understandable.
"It’s just the stress. You’d like to be home," he said.
During the college’s latest intake of people forced out of their homes due to flooding, the town’s director of disaster services coordinated between the town, the college, Trinity Foundation and Alberta Health Services for those who may have needed health support.
"We were committed to the college to ensure that whatever resources or support we could provide would be there," Norm McInnis, the town’s chief administrative officer, said.
The town provided some pay-as-you-go cellphones to displaced residents, seven iPads that people could use to check their email and a community services department employee ensuring that flood-displaced residents would not miss any needed services.
"The college has been absolutely wonderful," McInnis told councillors at their policies and priorities committee meeting on July 15.
McInnis said everything went according to plan when the displaced residents came to the college.
"We’ve got lots of practice at it, so that’s all part of our regional emergency management strategy that we have. Mountain View County, Sundre and Olds share in this resource," he said.
"This is the way it’s supposed to be," said Mayor Judy Dahl. "Kudos to everyone."
The town will be submitting information to the provincial government to recoup some of its costs for helping flood-displaced residents. The college will also be seeking assistance from the provincial government for sheltering and feeding residents forced to leave their homes.
Doug Wagstaff, the college’s manager of campus life, said while the town has been excellent in coordinating many types of services the guests at the college may need, the college has been eager to help wherever it can. Students hired by the college have organized trips to the Gopher Hole Museum in Torrington and the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller.
"These are extraordinary times for residents in southern Alberta. When our neighbours are in need, we certainly want to help them out," Wagstaff said.
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