Flood and fire seem to be more with us these days, but only when we’re touched by them personally is the full impact of how the planet is changing felt.
I agree that personal experience deepens empathy. The summer before the fire that destroyed much of Jasper I was there as a tourist. There were fires then, too, and no electricity. I remember how tense the local people were. The following year I felt a kinship with them I would not have felt otherwise.
Thanks for introducing us to such a calm and stoic, resilient and graceful couple confronted with such a disaster, true role models for those who face the kind of destruction they did. I hope their bad luck turns around and gives them some kind of temporal reward for their benign resignation to fate.
The power of fire is both terrifying and amazing. It hurts the heart to see the devastation of this beautiful northern oasis many of us call home. But even fire can’t stop the resilience of the people from this northern community as demonstrated by the experience and outlook you shared by one of many victims.
We know that climate change is happening and causing great loss. Your piece brings us up close to the reality of that suffering, makes it less abstract. Nicely done.
I feel badly for your friends (and others) but they sound like people that will reboot as best as possible. Fire can take everything but not necessarily the spirit!
Your friends give me strength and fortitude by reframing their profound loss as one of gratitude and appreciation… every day is a unique blessing, given only once and therein lies a tale
Thank you for this vivid and heartbreaking story, Bryan. Your friends sound like very strong people but nonetheless, I can't imagine anything as difficult to bear as the loss of one's home.
Wow, what an incredible attitude to respond to such a tragedy. They taught me something today.
I agree that personal experience deepens empathy. The summer before the fire that destroyed much of Jasper I was there as a tourist. There were fires then, too, and no electricity. I remember how tense the local people were. The following year I felt a kinship with them I would not have felt otherwise.
A lovely and sad story. Thanks Bryan.
A touching piece. Beautiful writing, Bryan. Thank you.
Thanks for introducing us to such a calm and stoic, resilient and graceful couple confronted with such a disaster, true role models for those who face the kind of destruction they did. I hope their bad luck turns around and gives them some kind of temporal reward for their benign resignation to fate.
The power of fire is both terrifying and amazing. It hurts the heart to see the devastation of this beautiful northern oasis many of us call home. But even fire can’t stop the resilience of the people from this northern community as demonstrated by the experience and outlook you shared by one of many victims.
Thanks for updating readers on the impact of the fires on the people in Flin Flon.
We know that climate change is happening and causing great loss. Your piece brings us up close to the reality of that suffering, makes it less abstract. Nicely done.
Heartbreaking, and beautifully written. It really is true that unless it happens to you or someone close to you it remains an abstraction.
I feel badly for your friends (and others) but they sound like people that will reboot as best as possible. Fire can take everything but not necessarily the spirit!
Your friends give me strength and fortitude by reframing their profound loss as one of gratitude and appreciation… every day is a unique blessing, given only once and therein lies a tale
How desperately sad for your good friends....and it didn't have to happen. Our inaction on climate change is behind these extreme events.
Thank you for this vivid and heartbreaking story, Bryan. Your friends sound like very strong people but nonetheless, I can't imagine anything as difficult to bear as the loss of one's home.