The McGee Family - Impacted Tantallon Fires

Hi, my name is Micaela Finlayson and I am writing this on behalf of my family, the McGee Family. In January 2023 my husband, Michael Finlayson, and I had moved home from Ontario to live with my family (Maureen McGee, my mother, Paul McGee, my father, and Jordan McGee, my brother). We were a family of five living in our home and are now all displaced. It had been the plan that my husband and I would purchase my childhood home to begin our adult lives, purchasing our first home, and having children.

On May 28, 2023 wildfires raged across the Tantallon area. My husband, my mother, our dog, and I raced to evacuate our home in Highland Park as we heard the news of the wildfires in Westwood Hills. We made it a fair distance down the Hammonds Plains Road when we realized we forgot our important documents, so we turned around to head back. By the time we reached our home on 102 Carmel Crescent it was engulfed in smoke, and flames could be seen behind a neighbouring house. We rushed to grab what we could, but we were unable to gather most of our belongings.

On May 29 we were made aware that our house has been burnt to the ground and we have lost everything. We are absolutely devastated and are trying to sort our way through the emotions and fear in this unbelievable circumstance.

I am humbly asking for any assistance you may be able to provide at this time as we determine where we will live, finding clothes to put on our backs, and how to go on with our lives.

Thank you in advance from the McGee and Finlayson family.