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The Loomex Group, Frontenac Paramedics local emergency services staff, the Kingston Native Centre and Learning Nest, along with City of Kingston staff helped residents of Kashechewan First Nation get settled after evacuating their northern community. Photo by Photo supplied by the Kingston N /Photo supplied by the Kingston N
Around 200 individuals from Kashechewan First Nation are currently finding refuge in Kingston after being compelled to leave their community in Northern Ontario due to a breakdown in their water treatment system.
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According to Chief Hosea Wesley and Council of Kashechewan First Nation, problems started back in December when major issues arose with their aging water infrastructure. The pumps at their water treatment plant broke down which meant they couldn’t mix chemicals necessary for cleaning drinking water. Following this, there was also a failure at their wastewater treatment plant’s raw sewage intake that caused flooding at Kashechewan’s only health-care facility-the Nursing Station.
“Freezing pipes have crippled much of the community’s vital infrastructure. Fire hydrants are frozen despite best efforts to winterize them, leaving lives and homes at risk of fire,” read a news release from Chief and Council.
Families were left struggling with just one case of drinking water each day-a situation that wasn’t enough for larger families or multiple households living together.
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The situation worsened when on January 4th Chief Wesley declared a state of local emergency calling for an evacuation plan for its roughly 2,300 members. Shortly afterward, they flew out about thirty-five vulnerable residents to Timmins as part of this effort.
On January8th, hundreds morewereflownoutto various evacuation sites across Ontario including Kingston.
“Ontario is working withthefederalgovernment , First Nations leadership, and localpartners tosafely evacuate Kashechewan First Nationresidents beginning January8th ,2026 ,” said officialsat Ministryof Emergency Preparednessand Response.”The Provincial Emergency Operations Centreis engagedwith Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)andotherpartnersto coordinateplanningand logistics ensuringallevacueeshaveaccess towrapperaroundsupportsandservicesincluding healthcareeducation, andothersocialservices.”
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Overtheweekend, M c Coy Bus Service steppedin tomake airport transfersfor evacuees.”We’reproudtooffersa fetransportationduringthiscriticalresponse,”readapostonsocialmedia.Overthe weekend Mc Coy Bus Serviceand Getawayswasabletoassistingwithairport transfersforevacueesfrom Kashechewan First Nation. Jan12 ,2026.(Photosuppliedby Mc Coy Bus Serviceand Getaways/Facebook) Photo by Photo supplied by Mc Coy Bus Serv /Photo supplied by Mc Coy Bus ServWith assistancefrom The Loomex Group Frontenac Paramedics locals emergency servicesstaffand Cityof Kingston, residentsof Kashechewan First Nationhave settledintothecommunity.The Kingston Native Centreand Learning Language Nest(KNCLN)hasalso steppedintheirjourneyby launchingextra programming.
“Ourcentrewill beoperatingsupportgroups, a mini-lacrosse campartprogramsinthecomingweeksopento bothlocalsandvisitors,”read apostfrom KNCLNon social media.Whileabout200membershavearrivedin Kingston Chief Wesleynotedthat asof Jan11 less than325peoplehave been evacuated blamesfederalprovincialgovernmentsforthelackof support. p>Thishasnotloadedyet butyourarticlecontinuesbelow<Articlecontent
“Weareextremelydisappointedwiththeresponsesofarfromourfederalprovincialtreatypartners. No politicalleadersfrom Ontariohavereachedout, andtheresponsewe havereceivedsofarfromthefederalgovernmentdoesnotmeeturgent needsoftheworseningconditionswithinourcommunity,”said Chief Wesleyinasuppliedstatement.
“Wehaveaskedforassistancefrom Canadian Armed Forcestohasten evacuationofthemostvulnerablemembersandon aiddeliveriesbottledwater. Theyhavenotcommittedto this sothatourpeoplecontinue suffering, and we canonlyhope tragedydoesnotoccurbeforetheygetoutsafely,”continued W esley.
A temporary nursing station has been established within thenortherncommunitybutitsonlyrunningat40 percentwithoutdiagnostic toolsornotelecom servicestocommunicatewithdoctors. “ If someone was having heartattack there wouldbenoway todiagnoseortreatthem,” said Tyson Wesley, thecommunity’sexecutivedirector.“Nowhereelsein Canada wouldyouseean entirecommunityleftwithoutabilityaccessadequatehealthcareservices.” For those seekingrelief temporarilyin Kingston, the KNCLN welcomesupport thoselivinginthesecommunities. Anyone interestedcanreach out via brandon. maracle@kncln. ca mkulchar Articlecontent Sharethisarticleinyournetwork
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