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Manitoba government urges tourists not to visit as 21,000 people flee wildfires

  • The Canadian Press

  • Canadian Press

  • June 9, 2025

An orange-coloured haze, resulting from a nearby wildfire, is seen on a helipad in La Ronge, Sask., in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency,

WINNIPEG -- Manitoba's emergency management minister says tourists should hit the pause button on visiting the province as the government works to accommodate about 21,000 wildfire evacuees.

Lisa Naylor says it's one of the largest evacuations in Manitoba's history and that the province expects more people will have to flee as wildfire season continues.

She says emergency officials are working closely with businesses within the province's tourism sector to secure hotel rooms for those fleeing the flames.

To do that, Naylor says this means Manitoba residents and Canadians should put off things ranging from large meetings and conventions to family reunions.

Thousands also remained out of their homes in Saskatchewan and Alberta, including between 10,000 and 15,000 in Saskatchewan alone.

Some residents of Pelican Narrows, Sask., in the province's remote north, can start to return home provided they are healthy and they have access to their own vehicles.

This report by was first published June 9, 2025.