Slave Lake is a rural community located in Northern Alberta, on the south and southeast shore of Lesser Slave Lake. On May 14 and 15, 2011, it suffered a massive wildfire event that forced the evacuation of the entire population of the Town of Slave Lake (approximately 7,000 residents), the Sawridge First Nation and some residents of the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River No. 124. Residents of the affected area were under a mandatory evacuation order for almost two weeks. The fire affected about one-third of the town, destroying over 700 residences, some businesses, and the town hall (with included the municipal library, town administrative offices, and regional provincial government offices). Almost 60 properties were also destroyed in the Municipal District, and 32 other were damaged. Overall, the total cost of the disaster represents the second largest payout in Canadian insurance history.

Why do the research?

Wildfires are a common occurrence within Canada but we do not completely understand how families and communities recover from such events. Our team has been doing research on this topic for several years. We have studied three wildfires so far in the communities of the Crowsnest Pass, AB, La Ronge, SK, and Barriere, B.C. The information we are finding out is useful for other communities that experience wildfires and is also useful for government and non-government personnel who work with these communities.

What do we want to know?

We want to find out: (1) how Slave Lake as a community deals with the fire, (2) the ways in which families and children deal with the fire, and (3) the local and regional services that assist families, children and communities to recover from the wildfire.

What are we doing?

We are conducting interviews with those who have been involved in the evacuation, firefighting and recovery efforts of the Slave Lake Fires. We are also interviewing families and asking them about their experiences during and after the fire. In these same households, we are also doing interviews with one child who is between 9 – 12 years of age and asking the parents to fill out a form about their children’s behavior since the fire. Finally, are giving the families disposable cameras and asking them to take pictures of what things were like before the fire, since the fire and what they want their future to look like. Later on we are asking families to talk about their pictures. We are also conducting a household survey of a random sample of Slave Lake families with children, and a school-based survey with children ages 8 to 18 years at 6 and 12 months post-disaster to assess their reactions to the wildfire event. Finally, we are reviewing existing policies and program documents related to disaster response and mental health programming and collecting any other relevant census, historical, survey and local administrative data to complete a community profile.

How are we involving the community?

We are working in cooperation with our community partner, an advisory committee and a research assistant from the community. We will ensure that the research results are made accessible through our website, printed materials, and public presentations.

This project is funded by the Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research (ACCFCR), the Government of Alberta, and the Insitute of Catastrophic Loss Reduction.

For more information about Slave Lake

Town of Slave Lake

Town of Slave Lake – Slave Lake Recovery 

Municipal District of Lesser Slave Lake River No. 124

Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council

 92.7 Lake FM Slave Lake  

Rebuilt Slave Lake – Helping Residents after the Wildfire 

Government of Alberta - Wildfire Support   

Lesser Slave Lake: Regional Wildfire Recovery Plan, 2011

AUPE - Loss and Hope (SlaveLakeFilm.com September 2011)

Research dissemination

Published material:

1. (2012, April). Buned, but not gone. Alberta Views 15 (03): 24. Available online http://magazinescanada.zinio.com/reader.jsp?issue=416215799&o=int&prev=si
2.  (2012, January-February). Dr. Judith Kulig. Alberta Views 15 (01): 12. Available online http://ca.zinio.com/reader.jsp?issue=416202857&o=ext
3. (2011, June). Kulig Study a Blueprint for Recovery. The Legend. University of Lethbridge 10 (10): 9. Avalable online http://issuu.com/ulethbridge/docs/leg061011-all
4. Clarke, E., J. Kulig & A. Pujadas Botey. (2011). Teachers’ guide: Supporting Students After a Wildfire. Lethbridge, AB: University of Lethbridge.

Academic presentations:

1. April 17-19, 2012. Seattle, United States. Presentation of study results at the 3rd Human Dimensions of Wildland Fire Conference.
   

Media: 

1. Road to Recovery (The Rebuilding of Slave Lake). CTV2 Alberta Primetime (TV). March 15, 2012.
   
2. Wildfire brought families, community together. Slave Lake Lakeside Leader. March 28, 2012.
3.  Update about research in Slave Lake. CBC Radio Edmonton. March 23, 2012.
4. Fire study project needs families. Slave Lake Lakeside Leader. November 9, 2011.
5. Arson suspected in Slave Lake fire. 94.1 (radio). November 3, 2011. 
6.  Arson allegation won’t affect Slave Lake Study. Lethbridge Herald. November 3, 2011.
7. Slave Lake Fire Research with Families. Calgary CBC Homestretch. October 24, 2011. 
8. Slave Lake Fire Research with Families. Edmonton CBC Radio Active. October 21, 2011.
9. University Researchers studying wildfire effects on community. Slave Lake Scope. October 8, 2011. 
10. U of L researchers in town to study fire impact. Slave Lake Lakeside Leader. August 17, 2011.
    
11. Slave Lake Research. QR77. August 15, 2011.
12. A study in resiliency. The Lethbridge Herald. August 12, 2011.
13. Report of initial visit to Slave Lake. CTV Lethbridge (also aired in CTV Calgary & Edmonton). August 12, 2011.  
14. Research in Slave Lake. Calgary CBC Eyeopener. August 11, 2011. 
15. Research in Slave Lake. 94.1 (radio). August 11, 2011.
16.  Research being conducted in Slave Lake. CTV Lethbridge. August 5, 2011.
17. Kulig Study a Blueprint for Recovery. The Legend, The University of Lethbridge. June, 2011.
18. Town of Slave Lake Council notebook. Slave Lake Lakeside Leader. June 29, 2011.
    
19. Are you prepared? The Journal (newspaper). June 9, 2011.
20. Slave Lake Wildfire. CBC Radio, Alberta at Noon. May 19, 2011.
21. Slave Lake Wildfire. QR77. May 19, 2011.
22. Slave Lake Will Be Stronger After the Fire. Lethbridge Herald. May 18, 2011.
23. Slave Lake Residents Face Grieving Period. Canadian Press. May 17, 2011.
24. Slave Lake Wildfire. CKBN. May 17, 2011.
25. Slave Lake Wildfire. Global TV Lethbridge. May 17, 2011.
26. Slave Lake Wildfire. CBC Edmonton. May 16, 2011.
27. Slave Lake Wildfire. CTV Lethbridge (aired by CTV Calgary & Edmonton). May 16, 2011.
28. Slave Lake Wildfire. City TV. May 16, 2011. 

Public presentations:

1. May 15, 2011 - Edmonton, AB. Presentation/discussion of the study to researchers and public, Northern Forestry Centre – Canadian Forest Service.
   
2. October 19, 2011 - Slave Lake, AB. Presentation of the study to the teachers in E.G. Wahlstrom Schoool.
3.  August 9, 2011 - Slave Lake, AB. Presentation of the study to Slave Lake community members and town council members.
4. March 20, 2011 - Slave Lake, AB. Presentation of preliminary interview results to the Rotary Club members.
5. March 20 and 22, 2011 - Slave Lake, AB. Meetings and discusions about preliminary interview results with community stakeholders.
6. March 21, 2011 - Slave Lake, AB. Presentation of preliminary interview results to community members.

THANKS

to all of those who have completed and sent in their household surveys

We are still accepting surveys

and look forward to receiving them in the mail