Canadian Armed Forces members have teamed up with local workers and volunteers to initiate the restoration of numerous residences damaged in Pimicikamak Cree Nation following a recent power interruption. The community, situated 530 kilometers north of Winnipeg, endured a five-day power outage that led to extensive harm to the water and sewer systems due to frozen pipes.
On January 11, seven soldiers arrived to assist in evaluating the extent of the damage to homes and infrastructure, with an additional three soldiers scheduled to join the effort later this week. Lt.-Col. Aarthi Prabhakaran, the leader of the technical assessment team, stated they are currently gathering information to address the issues.
The power failure occurred on December 28, resulting in a significant disruption to the community’s services. While power was eventually restored, the extreme cold weather caused widespread pipe damage, resulting in thousands of leaks affecting over 500 homes. Approximately 4,000 individuals from the Cree nation had to evacuate their residences during the outage, which coincided with a severe cold spell, exacerbating the already challenging circumstances.
This emergency evacuation marked the third instance in the past year that residents had to leave the area, following two evacuation orders issued in the summer of 2025 due to approaching wildfires. Nearly all of the estimated 1,300 homes in the region have incurred some level of damage.
Plumber Bo Beardy, a native of Pimicikamak, expressed his dismay at the aftermath of the power outage and leaking pipes, acknowledging the lengthy process ahead for repairs. A mobile camp has been established nearby to accommodate workers arriving to assist, including plumbers and restoration specialists from Western Canada.
The public works facility has become a central point for distributing essential supplies such as food, water, and baby formula to the community members. The demand for these resources is high, particularly after the initial power loss caused refrigerators and freezers to malfunction.
Despite the challenges, Beardy and his fellow plumbers are committed to helping the community recover. They understand the significance of their work and aim to restore homes promptly. The community continues to receive support from volunteers and various organizations as they strive to rebuild and recover from the recent crisis.