The Town of High Prairie is offering a big thank-you to all the volunteers who helped with the evacuees during the May 2011 wildfire situation.

During a ceremony at the Citizen Monument Aug. 2, Deputy Mayor Crystal Sekulich read in its entirety the text of a plaque which will be placed on the monument:

She also thanked Chris Clegg for the suggestion of recognizing the volunteers.

Other dignitaries attended the ceremony, including Lesser Slave Lake MLA Pearl Calahasen. She commends the Town of High Prairie and volunteers for making the evacuees feel welcome.

Councillor Michael Smith says, as owner of the Park Theatre, he didn’t hear one complaint about how things were handled during the wildfire situation.

“Hats off to everyone,” he says.

HIgh Prairie fire chief Ken Melnyk and the High Prairie Fire Department appreciate the recognition, too.

“All the volunteers of the High Prairie Fire Department are pleased to be recognized for their work on the wildfires,” says Melnyk. “Even the firefighters who didn’t go to Slave Lake were on standby, so all of them deserve recognition.”

M.D. of Big Lakes Reeve Alvin Billings offered his thanks to all who helped and says communities are built with volunteers.

Judy Krupa, a resolution support worker for Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council in Whitefish Lake First Nation, thanks everyone for assisting Whitefish Lake and neighbouring communities.

Each year, High Prairie town council considers nominations and selects up to four names for the Citizen Monument. But council made an exception for 2011 and decided to go with a plaque to recognize the volunteers.

The plaque will be placed on the monument later.