Thanks, St. Albert, for all your help

On Thursday, we experienced the unimaginable and a building which attaches to the Citadel Care Centre in

St. Albert caught fire. Fortunately, all residents in both buildings were safely evacuated. I can't say enough about the work and dedication displayed by our staff and the community with the number of people who showed up to help.

From all our amazing staff who were working and those who came in, to the many health and emergency professionals both off-duty and on (police, firefighters from surrounding communities, buses, Alberta Health Services and people from the community), thank you.

Thanks to the people who came in off the street to help. To the two people who came and took our birds home. There were people who brought personal wheelchairs, walkers, water and blankets. People offered shelter in their homes. People stood with residents the whole night chatting while we waited for the buses. Some people helped transport residents onto buses.

Young people with trucks came by, taking equipment to the St. Albert Inn which volunteered to house those evacuated. Thank you to the dear couple with the van who wanted to take our resident charts to the Inn. The registered nurse from AHS and her husband that stood beside the charts all evening to ensure they didn't get taken without permission. Thank you to our families who came to be with their loved ones. All I heard were many thank yous and support.

Thank you to our staff, who shined and showed us how lucky we are to have them as part of our team. There are too many staff stories and heart-filled moments to express.

During these challenging times, it is situations like this that show how kind people can be. Thank you.

Blair Halliday, chief operating officer for Qualicare Health Services