Community support helped fire victims

"People haven't asked for help from that fire for quite a while," said Anne St-Arnaud, assistant director of Sun Youth's emergency services.

"People were helped and now I guess they're fine, because they're not coming back to Sun Youth for more help," she told The Examiner this week.

St-Arnaud said few of the building's residents were left destitute.

The City of Westmount collaborated with the charitable services organization to provide long-term assistance and support to the victims of the apartment building fire. At the request of the City, a special fund was set up by Sun Youth to help victims get back on their feet after the devastating blaze.

The fire, which took place overnight on Thursday, Jan. 3, extensively damaged the apartment building at 440 Mount Stephen Avenue. More than 50 residents were forced from their homes, some of whom lost most of their belongings. There were no injuries, however.

While the Canadian Red Cross was on site to provide immediate assistance to victims on the night of the fire, putting five residents up in hotels for the night and offering clothing and food vouchers to 19 others, this support is only short-term.

Awaiting word on building's restoration

According to Joanne Poirier, director of Westmount's Urban Planning Department, demolition work, stripping and removal of fire debris at the apartment building have all been completed.

"The insurer and the owners are in the process of settling," she said. "They have to obtain a permit prior to any reconstruction work taking place and we haven't received anything yet."

Poirier could not predict when the building will be restored. "It's up to them," she said. "They have to agree among themselves and they have to get an architect — because it's a public building — to prepare drawings and send them to the City. The board of inspections has to review the plans and the board meets every Thursday morning. So it can be pretty, as long as we receive the plans."

The City has concluded an arrangement with Sun Youth to provide long-term aid to the victims of the blaze. Residents may donate gently-used furniture and appliances. The City can be contacted at 514-989-5455 to make a pledge. The City will transmit the appropriate information to Sun Youth, and coordinate all tangible donations with the organization.

The donations will be distributed according to need as assessed by Sun Youth, whose staff has significant experience in this area. Its personnel has already been in contact with many of the victims, conducting interviews and determining what each individual might require.

Westmount residents who would like to help their neighbours can make a cash donation to the Mount Stephen Victims Fund, through Sun Youth at the following address: Sun Youth Organization, 4251 St-Urbain, Montreal, QC, H2W 1V6. Please indicate on the cheque that the funds are to go to the Mount Stephen Victims Fund.