Municipality expresses condolences, offers to help
Municipality of Argyle doing its part to assist with relief efforts after Pubnico Head fire
And because this is a situation involving blended families, the reach of those who have lost so much is large. This has been hard, as well, for people in the community to process.
“Once they had something to do, something to focus on, it got a little bit better because that’s what they do, they help people,” d’Entremont says.
Heartbroken sums up best what the community has been feeling, he says. And these feelings aren’t just extended to the families. Others have been impacted.
As an ex- firefighter, d’Entremont says he’s been down the road of losing people in a fire. It’s a journey no one wants to experience, not firsthand, nor see others have to go through.
“I felt really bad for the emergency workers that were there because they knew what they were there for,” he says. “And God bless the ones that stayed for the cleanup side of it.”
In rural communities you need to have people in these roles. You need to have people who volunteer to leave their homes, their jobs and their families to answer that 911 call. But when you experience something like this, d’Entremont says, that next 911 call is going to be that much more difficult.
“They need support because it’s such a horrific tragedy,” he says of the first responders.
He is thankful they will receive it. West Pubnico resident Charlene LeBlanc felt so strongly about the people of this region that she nominated West Pubnico for a community spirit award. Argyle-Barrington MLA Chris d’Entremont says it will take a long time for people to help from this latest tragedy but they will there for one another. Argyle Warden Richard Donaldson during Argyle municipal council’s Jan. 9 meeting.
The Municipality of Argyle opened its first council meeting of the new year with a moment of silence honouring the victims of the Pubnico Head fire.
Earlier in the day, the municipality announced its plans to assist with the relief efforts for those affected by the tragedy.
“The Municipality of Argyle is deeply saddened by the tragic house fire in Pubnico and extends its sincerest condolences to the family members and to the community,” the municipality said in a news release prior to council’s regular meeting of Jan. 9.
At that session, Argyle Warden Richard Donaldson read a statement on behalf of the municipality.
“We offer our deepest condolences to those affected by the fire in Pubnico,” he said, describing the weekend blaze, which claimed the lives of four children, “almost unspeakable.”
The local community, province and nation are saddened by “this dark event,” he said.
“Our thoughts and prayers go to the family members recovering from this tragedy and to family and friends who are doing all they can in what seems like an impossible situation,” he said.
“Pubnico is a small community and Argyle is a small municipality, but it is in these darker times that we see the community stand tall by giving their spirit and their passion to rebuild what they love and to help their neighbours ... We ask our community to once again rise to the occasion and support these families in their time of greatest need.”
The municipality is doing its part to assist with relief efforts for those affected by the fire and to provide a safe and central location for donations.
Accounts in trust have been opened at the credit union and Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) under the name Pubnico Fire Relief Fund. Anyone can make a donation at any credit union or RBC branch in Atlantic Canada using that name. The funds will be administered with the help of the Municipality of Argyle’s EMO co-ordinator and local community members.
The municipal office will take names and numbers of those interested in providing items to those affected. As the specific needs were still uncertain, the municipality would keep an inventory of those items and co-ordinate as the need arises. Those interested can call 902-648-2314.
In its media release, the municipality said it recognized the difficult work of the local volunteer fire departments and emergency agencies.
The municipality also acknowledged the “incredible efforts already underway” to help those affected by the tragedy and encouraged residents to support fundraisers and the like that may be held. COMMUNITY SESSION
The municipality was also one of several partners was involved in a community session for the residents of the Pubnico region on the evening of Jan. 12.
“The critical incident stress management team, with the Office of the Fire Marshal, have been doing a lot with the fire departments from almost day one, doing debriefings and grief counseling and positive coping training and those type of things,” explained Chris Frotten, municipal clerk for the Municipality of Argyle. “They found it very beneficial and they appreciated it very much.”
And so a decision was made to have an open session for the community.
A member of the critical incident stress management team spoke to people about strategies and ways adults that cope with these types of events. A mental health grief counselor spoke about how parents can help their children cope with this type of tragedy. Information was also provided on the relief efforts that are underway to help the families.
Other agencies were also present to provide support and/or information. A media release about the session said the hope was the session would give the community the opportunity to come together to help begin the healing process.
Meanwhile, support has been shown to the families and the community by others as well, with moments of silence and statements of grief offered at the Tri-County Regional School Board monthly meeting, the town of Yarmouth’s council meeting and the Jan. 12 Mariners game, as just some examples.