Support flows in aftermath of Iqaluit fire
Four locations across Iqaluit accept donations; city, residents raise money for victims
Volunteers and residents who were displaced by a fire at Iqaluit’s Noble House apartment building gather Thursday at the cadet hall, which was also operating as a warming shelter for victims. (Photo by Arty Sarkisian)
Dozens of people eager to donate food and necessities gathered at the Iqaluit cadet hall Thursday to help victims of a fire that destroyed an apartment building the night before.
The exact number of people displaced by the fire at Building 1088, also known as Noble House, is unknown but 36 families were living in Government of Nunavut staff housing units within the building, said Sierra Leblanc, spokesperson for Nunavut Housing Corp., in an email to Nunatsiaq News.
At the cadet hall Thursday, many of those displaced were walking around the rows of tables with clothes, boots and food, hugging and offering comfort to each other.
“I just can’t explain what I feel,” said one of the victims, who declined to give his name. He said he was having a hard time finding words for his thoughts and feelings, even to himself.
Cadet hall was one of four places where volunteers were accepting donations. Other locations are the Aqsarniit and Capital Suites hotels and Joamie School.
Clothes and other necessities were arriving in a steady flow all morning, mostly in big black garbage bags collected in a pile that would later be sorted.
By around 11 a.m., the amount of donations at the cadet hall got so overwhelming that city staff began asking people to take the items to Joamie School, with many others happy to volunteer their trucks and cars to transport the bags.
Volunteers on site also asked the victims to write down things that they needed but couldn’t find.
The list included baby bottles, large-sized men’s clothes and blankets. The word “blankets” was underscored and had two exclamation marks.
A GoFundMe account posted by Iqaluit resident Alena Stevenson had collected more than $18,000 as of Thursday afternoon. All money from this fund will be evenly split between affected residents and go toward “immediate needs,” the GoFundMe page said.
The City of Iqaluit announced it will also start accepting donations on behalf of residents on Friday.
Neither the city nor RCMP have provided any information on the possible cause of the fire and whether it is considered suspicious, or given any official word on how many people are impacted.
It’s also unknown whether anybody was injured in the blaze.
Hmm will the original homeless be also helped prior to the blaze?