As the school year approaches, schools in Winnipeg and Brandon, Manitoba, are preparing to accommodate hundreds of students who have been forced to leave their homes due to wildfires.

Education officials say they are preparing to buy new chairs, set up extra classrooms, return retired buses to service, and make special arrangements to provide meals and support for students.

Provincial officials stressed that no student should miss out on their education due to displacement. School staff are also visiting families at hotels to register students and provide a supportive and cultural experience.

More than 5,500 Manitobans are still living in evacuation centers due to damage to power infrastructure, and it is likely that some families will not be able to return until late September. Meanwhile, indigenous community leaders are emphasizing the importance of children returning to normal life and education.

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