More than a year after an explosion rocked downtown Wheatley, destroyed buildings, and injured people in its wake, the community is still recovering.
Since a hydrogen sulphide explosion devastated the core of Wheatley on August 26 last year, officials have been working to secure the site, cap three wells believed to have been the source of the gas, and get residents back in their homes.
"It's been devastating on so many different levels," said Lauren Anderson, a recently elected councillor for Ward 1. "We haven't gotten to the post-traumatic stress yet, because we're still in the trauma."
More than 100 people were displaced from their homes and businesses.
According to the municipality, 16 homeowners still have not returned to their homes for one of two reasons - some of them might be in the evacuation zone, while others might be outside of it but are having issues with insurance.
"Before any funding was coming in, it was the community that donated money," said Anderson. "That just shows the resiliency, togetherness, and the sense of community that Wheatley has and has always had."
A GoFundMe, which was started by Anderson, raised over $200,000 for families that needed emergency support.
The community continued to rally together after the event with even more initiatives like "Wheatley Strong."
"Wheatley has always been such a tight-knit community and very self-sustaining," said Anderson. "As far as Chatham-Kent goes, we're kind of at the end of it and Wheatley has always vouched for itself."
Despite the hurdles, some major milestones have been reached over the past year.
Erie Street North between Talbot Road and Elm Street in Wheatley’s downtown area will reopen to vehicular traffic Monday for the first time in almost a year and a half.
This was the last remaining road closure due to the explosion.
"Those four corners are where every single amenity was," said Anderson. "There was the doctor, law office, chiropractor, hair salon, the pub, and the bank. It was everything."
In November, Elm Street between Erie Street North and Little Street and Foster Street between Erie Street North and Victoria Street reopened to traffic.
On September 21, 2022, Ontario Premier Doug Ford visited the affected site.
A day later, the Minister of Northern Development and Indigenous Affairs announced $2 million in funding to help affected businesses.
"Forty-two organizations including businesses, not-for-profits, and commercial landlords were supported through provincial funding," read a report. "Thirty-three full-time and 11 part-time jobs have been retained with provincial funding, 16 businesses, including two not-for-profits and three commercial property owners have re-opened within Wheatley, six businesses have relocated outside of Wheatley and 13 businesses remain closed in the evacuation zone."
Since the beginning of the emergency, the Municipality has worked alongside the province to identify and address the source of the gas leak and to support the community of Wheatley.
As of August 31, 2022, the municipality has incurred $17,670,432 in expenses related to the Wheatley emergency.
"We have this time in our community's history and we're going to build Wheatley back however we want it," said Anderson.
