THUNDER BAY — For the people returning to Whitesand and Armstrong this week, Ontario Provincial Police have a simple request: Drive carefully and be patient.
“Over the next couple of days, the motoring public returning to Armstrong and Whitesand can expect an increased police presence,” Sgt. Theresa Wabason said Thursday near Highway 527’s intersection with the Trans-Canada Highway.
“Our job is to ensure that there is safe travel along the highway,” she continued. “We want everyone to be safe, adhering to the traffic laws.
“We ask that everyone is patient and abides by the rules of the road, and we want everyone to get home safe.”
The July 13 evacuation order for Whitesand First Nation and neighbouring Armstrong was lifted at 9 a.m. Thursday, allowing hundreds of residents to return to their homes.
“It’s been a long time coming, and we know people are excited to get home,” said Wabason, herself a Whitesand community member.
“But we just want everyone to be safe, and we want people to get home.”
Wabason said Thunder Bay and Armstrong OPP will have an increased police presence on Highway 527 and in Armstrong and Whitesand “just to ensure safe return for everyone in the community.”
She added that “the OPP really wants to thank the community members for their cooperation and their patience.”
