Virtual town hall for Jasper fire evacuees goes Monday in Calgary

Alberta will hold a town hall meeting Monday evening in Calgary for those evacuated from the Jasper wildfires.

People can participate online or by phone, or listen in to the meeting from the Shouldice Arena. But no one from the provincial government will be present in Calgary to answer questions.

Displaced Jasper residents are invited to attend the Shouldice Arena’s reception centre, 1515 Home Rd.� N.W., between 6:30 and 8 p.m.

Online access is available at alberta.ca/emergencies. Evacuees can also phone in at 1-833-380-0691.

Those planning on attending in person are asked to sign up online.

Although the Shouldice Arena’s reception centre is no longer operating 24 hours a day,  it will be open from 8 a.m. to midnight.

As of Monday morning, 1,388 evacuees had registered in Calgary.

According to a release from the city, supports will continue to be available for any evacuees who arrive outside of those hours.

“We will make any adjustments necessary based on the number of evacuees arriving,” the release reads.

Officials estimate that 358 of the 1,113 total structures in Jasper — about one-third — were destroyed.

The Jasper fires have burned about 32,000 hectares in the national park as of Sunday, according to Parks Canada.

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