Welcome to another episode of Municipal Affairs.
In late May of this year—on May 28, 2025—the City of Flin Flon faced one of its most serious emergencies in recent memory. A rapidly spreading wildfire, fueled by extreme conditions and dry forests, prompted a mandatory evacuation of the entire community—some 5,100 residents—fearing the flames could engulf the town’s borders.
The situation was dire: fire crews, supported by water bombers, helitankers, and nearly 200 firefighters, fought to keep the blaze from encroaching on homes and crucial infrastructure as winds threatened to push it further inward.
Yet, resilience quickly became the watchword. Just shy of a month later, on June 25, 2025 evacuees were given the green light to return home as the wildfire threat eased.
Deputy Mayor Alison Dallas-Funk played a central role in coordinating re-entry plans; she and other local leaders worked diligently to restore basic services and ensure households, businesses, and essential facilities were ready for the community’s return.
In the weeks and months since, residents and businesses have returned in earnest, and life within the city is slowly but steadily resuming its familiar pace. Mayor George Fontaine noted that while medical facilities took a little longer to ramp up, even vulnerable populations—such as those in personal care homes—were able to return with care and support.
Still, caution remains a constant companion; the scars of the blast zone just beyond the city’s edge remind everyone that while Flin Flon looks, and largely feels, like itself again, the resilience of its people and the vigilance of its services continue to shape the path forward.
We sat down with Deputy Mayor Alison Dallas-Funk to hear about the aftermath of those wildfires, and how the city has recovered.
The business community, too, has faced both disruption and renewal in the wake of the evacuation. For many local shops, restaurants, and service providers, weeks without customers brought significant financial strain, while others used the pause to rethink operations and strengthen their connections to the community.
Organizations such as the Flin Flon & District Chamber of Commerce have stepped forward to play a vital role in that recovery—coordinating resources, advocating for support, and providing a forum for business owners to share challenges and solutions.
We spoke with Kory Eastman, President of the Chamber, while in Flin Flon last month, where he emphasized how collaboration among businesses, local government, and residents is helping to rebuild momentum in the economy, ensuring that Flin Flon’s commercial heart beats strong as the community transitions back to normal life.
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