Latest news with #DawnHlady
CTV News
12-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
‘Grateful to help': Flin Flon Chicken Chef owners feeding front-line workers in evacuated town
Dan and Dawn Hlady pose with Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew on June 12, 2025, in Flin Flon. (Dawn Hlady) The owners of Chicken Chef in Flin Flon, Man. have gone from serving up fried chicken and pizza to feeding hundreds of essential workers and first responders who have stayed behind in the evacuated city. Dawn and Dan Hlady have owned and operated the restaurant for 20 years. After a fire in neighbouring Creighton, Sask. broke out late last month, the town was evacuated. Viewer video shows a wildfire burning near Creighton on May 27, 2025. Viewer video shows a wildfire burning near Creighton on May 27, 2025. Dan, who is a Creighton town councillor, stayed behind to help the municipality respond to the crisis. Dawn initially left, but duty soon called. 'As I was sitting in my friend's basement as the evacuee, I just felt like I needed to be here too because he was helping.' She pitched in the only way she knew how – food. Dawn and Dan started cooking for all those who stayed back when others were forced out – municipal and provincial front-line workers and firefighters from both provinces. Dawn Hlady Dawn Hlady prepares a meal for essential workers in Flin Flon, Man. on June 12, 2025. (Dawn Hlady) To feed the hungry heroes, the Hladys are working 14 to 16-hour days. They're up at 4 a.m. every morning so breakfast can be cooked in the restaurant, packed up and transported to both Flin Flon and Creighton feeding sites by 7 a.m. They've had to get creative with the menu, not only because two weeks of straight Chicken Chef would make even the most die-hard fan long for a different meal. 'It's changing every day depending on what kind of products we have,' she said. 'The fire commissioner just sent in another truck, so that was your basics of bread and pasta and potatoes and stuff.' Flin Flon wildfires Dawn's son sits in a truck packed with food supplies in Flin Flon, Man. on June 6, 2025. (Dawn Hlady) Dan, who is a chef, has used AI to help generate menu ideas from the limited supplies to keep things interesting for the diners. 'A person can only eat scrambled eggs and bacon or oatmeal for so long,' Dawn joked. They're feeding more than just humans. Dawn said the community is running out of dog and cat food, so the town's pets are dining on leftover chicken and rice. 'They're getting a gourmet meal,' she joked. Flin Flon Chicken Chef staff and Dawn's sister make food for Flin Flon's pets on June 10, 2025. (Dawn Hlady) While Dawn is tired, every person she feeds, be it with meatloaf or spaghetti or another round of bacon and eggs, is thankful, just as she is for them. 'They're putting in hard days as well, and we're really grateful to help everybody get through,' she said. 'It's not even just being a cook. It's being a shoulder to vent on. It's being supportive of others that aren't around their families. It's just sticking together and staying strong as a community.'
CBC
04-06-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Living in a parking lot: Sask. evacuees share concerns with emergency response
Social Sharing Joslynn Thedorf sums up her sleeping accommodations these days in two words: "Very squeezable." Thedorf, her 11-year-old daughter Hayleigh and their four dogs are sardined into a silver SUV in a Prince Albert, Sask., parking lot. They joined the convoy leaving left La Ronge earlier this week as wildfires advanced on the northern Saskatchewan community. They've been living in their SUV since arriving because they can't find a hotel room. Thedorf has been through evacuations before and appreciates the stakes when the forest is burning. Her family is safe, her house is still standing and today, she's got shampoo. "It's the little things. We're displaced but we have each other. We'll get through." Thedorf's gratitude is echoed by other evacuees, but many are also raising questions about support for firefighters, the provincial response and ongoing communication issues. WATCH | Sask. wildfire evacuee criticizes lack of information, urgency from leaders: Sask. wildfire evacuee criticizes lack of information, urgency from leaders 2 hours ago Duration 5:06 Dawn Hlady owns a business in Flin Flon, Man., and lives across the border in Creighton, Sask. She has been in Saskatoon this week, including on Monday when the prime minister and premiers were in the city for the first ministers' meeting. "It was very frustrating sitting in Saskatoon knowing that the premiers and all the politicians were there having their meetings. And you go online and you see them posting about the beautiful city. And how they're doing this and that," she said. "Meanwhile, your whole life is burning down and nobody can even pick up the phone and answer your question." Viviana Ruiz Arcand drove from La Ronge to Saskatoon, arriving early Tuesday. Speaking at an Opposition NDP news conference, she said she considers herself lucky because she can stay with friends. Arcand said money is becoming an issue for many evacuees. "If you're in a hotel, if that hotel has food service you may very likely be getting meals. If you're not at a hotel or an evacuation centre, hey, you are on your own dime so you gotta figure it out," she said. "One thing that can make it better is grocery store vouchers for people that don't have access to food, right? A gasoline voucher. So we're not asking for donations, we're not asking for handouts, we're looking for support." Rebecca McCrimmon lost her home in Denare Beach, in the province's northeast. She wonders whether the government could better support firefighters. "I really wish there was more support from the air on the fire earlier on because, if they would have had the support, we might still have had homes," she said. "We've been hearing that from a few people, it really seemed like there was a lot more resources put in on the Manitoba side of the border." Abigail Clarke from Wadin Bay, north of La Ronge, said this year's response to the fires seems less extensive than a decade ago. "We had bombers flying everywhere," she said. "This time there seems to be a really big lack of resources being utilized, which is quite disappointing to see."
CTV News
29-05-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
'Living minute by minute': Wildfire evacuee shares her experience
Watch Dawn Hlady shares her story after fleeing Flin Flon, when she might return, and her message to the government.
