SLAVE LAKE, Alberta – Prince William and Kate made a detour from their official itinerary on Wednesday so they could visit the northern Alberta town of Slave Lake, heavily damaged by a wildfire in May.
The royal couple landed at the community airport, where they boarded a bus with large windows for a tour of devastated neighborhoods. They saw burned-out cars, blackened trees and the remains of what had once been family homes — now reduced to charred basement foundations.
The couple walked down a street, asked many questions, and even stopped to touch one demolished car. At one point, William reached down to examine the rubble, then studied the ash on his hands.
After about 20 minutes, they headed to a local college, where a crowd that had been gathering since early morning chanted "Will and Kate" and "We Love Slave Lake."
The two waved briefly before heading inside to meet about 50 residents, who sat in plastic chairs at folding tables in the gymnasium. The duke and duchess stopped at each table to shake hands and chat. William patted one woman's shoulder.
They emerged for a walkabout to the delight of everyone.
The couple made the detour to Slave Lake with the hope of bringing some much-needed cheer to residents who face the daunting task of rebuilding their fire-scarred town. The northern Alberta community was not on the official royal itinerary, but the couple wanted to make a special stop to show support for the many people who lost everything.
More than 400 homes and businesses — about one-third of the town — were reduced to ash and debris when a wind-whipped forest fire swept through in May. The fire forced 7,000 people to flee in what was the largest evacuation in Alberta's history.
The newlyweds are on the seventh day of their nine-day trip to Canada, part of the first official overseas trip for the couple who wed on April 29. After the Slave Lake visit, they departed for some private time at an undisclosed location before their next official stop in Calgary late Thursday afternoon. Wednesday was originally scheduled to be a day of rest.
The fires left many wondering what — if anything — they would find upon their return. Some houses were undamaged, but others were razed and families have been forced to seek temporary accommodation.
The people gathered outside the college were pressed four and five deep against the barricades, eager for a glimpse of the royal visitors.
"It is very, very exciting for our town and our community," resident Shauna Fiddler said. "It will hopefully lift the spirits of many people who have had their spirits quite dampened."
Dwayne Verschoor, whose home was destroyed, said he can't believe the royals made a point of coming to visit.
"It's a pretty big honor and a privilege even for them to think of us over here in a small little town," he said.
Some Slave Lake residents are living in campers and mobile homes. Lucky ones, such as nursery school teacher Karen Scharf, have found rental housing. She said it's a tight squeeze with five adults, two dogs and a cat, but at least they'll have a roof over their heads for the winter.
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