Nine Fort Mac families staying in local hotel

As of late last week, nine families of Fort McMurray evacuees were staying at the Pomeroy Inn & Suites in Olds.

“It's amazing actually. You'd think it's a long way, but they're actually coming down even all the way down to Calgary and it's just devastating to see,” Pomeroy Inn & Suites general manager Stephen Dodwell said during a news conference last week.

“But the community has reacted well. We've helped out a bit here in the hotel and we've had no end of help from businesses and personal people, whether it's clothes or vouchers or free tickets to the circus.”

Dodwell, who is also president of the Olds and District Chamber of Commerce, said businesses all over Olds and area have stepped up to help Fort McMurray evacuees.

“It sends the message that we are a caring business community,” he said.

Dodwell said one family in particular stood out in his mind.

It was a family – a family of three,” he said. “They actually were just overwhelmed, because we had the accommodation. As I say, we got the tickets to the circus, they were upgraded to a nice suite.

“And then I was able to present them with this huge envelope of vouchers with anything from Timmy's coffee to food to telephone minutes. It was just amazing.”

Dodwell said families staying there have told him some “dreadful” stories of what they've had to go through as a result of the wildfires.

“Just literally 10 minutes to pack up, get out, drive down. They didn't know where they were going; they were heading down this way,” he said.

Dodwell said one company put all its employees in the hotel.

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