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The City of Yellowknife says a reception centre for people who have evacuated from Whatì is now open.
The Community Government of Whatì issued an evacuation order on Friday morning due to a nearby wildfire. It said at the time that reception centres were being set up in Behchokǫ̀ and Yellowknife.
Shortly before 7pm on Friday, the city announced that a reception centre at the Yellowknife fieldhouse was open.
The city said the centre has 110 beds, access to showers and essential facilities.
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It said all evacuees must sign in at the Tłı̨chǫ reception desk, which would be open at the site until 10pm on Friday and re-open at 6:30am on Saturday.
In a Facebook post earlier on Friday, Yellowknife Mayor Ben Hendriksen said the city’s fieldhouse and multiplex gym will be closed for public use “for the near future.” He added that some other city services may be affected or slower as municipal staff will be working with the Community Government of Whatì to welcome its residents to Yellowknife.
“As neighbours of Whatì, Yellowknife is here to support them,” he wrote.
“Please show kindness and support to Whatì residents as they become temporary Yellowknifers. We all know the challenges of being far from home in these difficult moments.”
