As Canadians celebrate Mother's Day across the country, families affected by the Alberta wildfire are finding ways to mark the occasion despite their difficult circumstances and unfamiliar surroundings.

Sara O'Malley has been living at a shelter inside a Lac La Biche, Alta. community centre since Tuesday. She treated herself to some cosmetics and toiletries for Mother's Day, but says the holiday has been a difficult for her and her children.

"The hardest part for me is that my kids are really upset. They had made me things [for Mother's Day] at their school and they couldn't bring them," she told 麻豆影视 Channel.

"As a mom, I'm more concerned about the feelings of my kids than myself."

Community members are rallying to keep Mother's Day traditions alive at the evacuation shelter. Local firefighters brought bouquets of flowers to give out to mothers and their children.

 

 

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley delivered a heartfelt message to mothers impacted by the sprawling wildfire Sunday, reminding them to stay strong on what will be remembered as a bittersweet Mother's Day for many in Alberta.

鈥淚 know today is a bittersweet Mother鈥檚 Day for many Alberta moms, as you鈥檙e away from your homes in #ymm,鈥� Notley tweeted Sunday morning.

鈥淎ll of you are incredibly strong & I hope you鈥檙e able to find a small moment for yourself today. My thoughts are with you.鈥�

 

Two Albertans died in separate traffic accidents during the evacuation, and more than 80,000 people have been displaced from their homes. Fire officials in the province have not given a timeline for when residents will be allowed to return to assess the damage.

During a news conference on Sunday afternoon, Notley grew emotional as she noted the toll of the disaster.

"I'm hoping for a few minutes with my own children. That not all of us can do that is definitely an awful tragedy," she said.

With files from CTV Edmonton's Shanelle Kaul