Safety officers in city to support evacuees
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/06/2025 (292 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Four First Nation safety officers are in Brandon to help Brandon Police Service support wildfire evacuees.
“Many of our evacuees are familiar with First Nation safety officers. They’re the faces that they see providing for the safety and security and well-being of their communities,” said BPS Chief Tyler Bates.
The FNSOs, who started their work in Brandon on Wednesday, came from Sandy Bay First Nation, Ebb and Flow First Nation and Long Plain First Nation.
Bates said he hoped the presence of the FNSOs would provide evacuees with a sense of comfort and assurance.
He expressed gratitude to the province for facilitating and funding this support.
The main role of the FNSOs will be to act as a bridge between the evacuees and BPS by facilitating communication. He said they will mostly be at lodging centres or the visitor reception centre where evacuees check in.
Matt McKay, who is an FNSO adviser and retired First Nation Police Officer, said the officers have received positive feedback from the evacuees, who have been thanking them for their assistance.
“It’s about our own people helping our own people,” he said.
McKay said there are also FNSOs in Thompson, Portage la Prairie and Winnipeg to help with evacuee support.
He said this was a “positive” idea from the province and he hopes provincial officials consider funding FNSO in northern communities.
» The Brandon Sun