Mathias Colomb Cree Nation among communities with restored power weeks ahead of schedule

Manitoba Hydro says that power has been restored this week to multiple northern communities that were impacted by wildfires.

A Manitoba First Nation that has been evacuated for over a hundred days due to wildfire threat now has its power restored ahead of schedule, marking one step closer to the community’s return.

Power was restored to all of Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, also known as Pukatawagan, on Wednesday, according to a Manitoba Hydro news release. Just last week, the community approximately 700 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg was not expected to have full power restored until the week of Sept. 28.

“Favourable weather, reduced wildfire activity, well-planned logistics ensuring adequate supplies of material, and well-equipped camps to house crews near work locations, helped expedite repairs,” said the Crown corporation.

Repairs to one transmission line are expected to be completed next week, which will enhance power reliability to the community, according to Manitoba Hydro.

As of Wednesday, 213 of the 253 damaged utility poles in the region had been repaired or replaced.

Mathias Colomb Cree Nation Chief Gordie Bear previously called for funding from the federal and provincial governments for a temporary generator system to expedite the return home while Manitoba Hydro continued to work on restoring full power.

READ MORE: Mathias Colomb Cree Nation pleads for temporary generator to end evacuation

“We got to get home,” Bear said during a news conference in Winnipeg last week. “Our children are suffering. We’re suffering … Comfort is not easy to find when you’re in a concrete jungle.”

Bear said last week that about 2,200 members from the community are residing elsewhere, including in Winnipeg, The Pas, Brandon and Niagara Falls, Ont.

Manitoba Hydro also said power to Leaf Rapids and South Indian Lake was restored this week. Power for Marcel Colomb First Nation and Lynn Lake is planned to be restored on Thursday.

The Crown corporation said over 1,000 of its utility poles and other related equipment were damaged or destroyed during the wildfire season, which was the worst in decades. It estimates the cost of the restoration effort to be $32 million.