There were a few stressful days last week for Carnarvon resident, Kim Switzer, as her son, Memphis, had to be evacuated from northern Ontario fires while on a canoe trip with Keewaydin Camp in Temagami.
“It was a long, three days of torture,” Switzer told The Highlander Tuesday (July 21).
Switzer said Memphis was near Wabakimi Provincial Park July 15 when parents received an email from the camp saying rescue crews were planning to evacuate the youth because the area they were in was not safe due to the fires.
Switzer was on tenterhooks, hopeful they could all get out safely to checkpoints and then back to Temagami.
The next morning, July 16, she was crossing her fingers that Memphis would be air evacuated as he was on an island with the other boys, waiting to get out.
She described July 17 as “a long, hard emotional day.” She said she got no sleep “knowing my boy was out there on an island waiting to be evacuated from the growing fires. I got up that morning waiting with worry and got news that there were new fires and changes of plans and no planes going to get them. They were to paddle to the railroad tracks and get on a train to then meet the OPP to get on a bus and head to Sioux Lookout.”
Later that day, she said the kids made the train to Sioux Lookout and were headed back to Temagami. While she was waiting for updates, she said she was breathing easier knowing Memphis was not stranded on an island.
“I knew Memphis was in good hands with well-trained staff, but as a mom you can’t help but worry,” Switzer said.
“Hats off to all the amazing, highly-skilled and trained Keewaydin staff, emergency crews, firefighters, police, CN workers etc. who got all the kids back home to camp. I am forever thankful.”
Switzer said she loves Memphis “to bits. He is my world and I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to him. So, I am relieved that they are out of harm’s way and will have amazing stories to share.”
On Sunday (July 19), Switzer knew for certain that Memphis had made it back to Camp Keewaydin because another parent sent her a photograph of him. She added he was packing for a three-week trip elsewhere to finish off the camping season.
“I am so relieved. What a heartwrenching few days. But I am so happy they are still going to get right back out tripping. It’s really hard as a mom not to worry about your boy, but as an outdoor enthusiast, I’m like ‘hell ya, that’s my boy, get out there and paddle more’.
She has yet to talk to Memphis, as the camp does not want participants using cell phones and promotes the place as somewhere “where kids become gutsy, courageous, self assured and learn to take risks.”
But when she picks Memphis up Aug. 10, she said she’ll be giving him a long hug. “I don’t care if he’s 14, I am going to hug him until I am done.”
