Swift Response and Community Support:

The recent wildfires in Northern Manitoba brought unimaginable challenges to families, forcing them from their homes with little warning. In these moments of crisis, the spirit of community shines brightest, and at Nest Host, we are incredibly proud of how our entire organization mobilized to provide immediate and meaningful support to those in need.

We had the privilege of partnering with the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) to assist multiple Red River Métis families who were displaced during the evacuation.

While the story of Rob Cormier and Jenn Beck, featured in Le Métis, serves as a powerful testament to the tangible impact of our collaboration, it represents just one instance of the comprehensive support Nest Host extended to the affected community.

Imagine expecting newborn twins, arriving in a new city for their birth, only to find your home community under an emergency evacuation due to unprecedented wildfires. “Because my fiancé was pregnant with twins, she was sent down early… she was just packed up for the maternity side of things. And I came down mid-May to be here for the birth of the boys, so we were down here when the fire lit up.”

From Rob’s perspective: “Displaced by wildfires, we were in the hospital with our newborns, unsure where to go, and even looking at Airbnb. We were incredibly 

surprised when Jenn’s sister told us the MMF would house our whole family.”

As soon as news of the escalating wildfires and mass evacuations broke, Nest Host’s CEO, Cameron Finnson, didn’t wait for a call for help. He immediately recognized the urgent need for temporary housing solutions and proactively reached out to the Manitoba Métis Federation to offer Nest Host’s full support. 

His directive to the entire company was clear: mobilize all available resources to assist displaced families.

“When we heard that families were being evacuated due to the fires, we knew we had the resources and capacity to help. Nest Host is built to offer short and medium term furnished accommodations, and this was a way to put that to use for something truly meaningful.”

“Emergencies don’t come with warning,” noted Cameron. “Our ability to mobilize our team quickly – to clean, furnish, and prepare a suite in a matter of hours – showed how crucial it is to be organized and responsive. More than that, it reminded us that housing is about people. It’s not just units and logistics; it’s about making someone feel safe and at home, especially during a crisis.”

The call to action resonated deeply with every member of the Nest Host team, setting in motion a swift and coordinated response to prepare multiple units for incoming evacuees:

Our Leadership: From the top down, our CEO and Top Management ensured that providing support to these families became our absolute top priority, cutting through any potential red tape to facilitate a rapid response and offering our resources to the MMF without hesitation.

Our Housekeeping Team: These unsung heroes swiftly went into action. They meticulously cleaned and prepared our available units, ensuring they were not just ready, but truly comfortable and welcoming for every family arriving.

Our Guest Services Team: On high alert, our guest services professionals were ready to assist multiple families with every need, from guiding them to their temporary homes to addressing any concerns that arose. Their compassion and dedication provided a much-needed sense of reassurance during a chaotic time.

We extend our sincerest gratitude to the entire Nest Host team. Your proactive spirit, swift action, tireless work, and unwavering commitment to our values truly embodied our pledge to the community. Each one of you played a vital role in turning a challenging situation into one of comfort and hope for these families.

We are also immensely grateful to the Manitoba Métis Federation for their incredible work and for collaborating with us to serve. Their proactive and compassionate approach to supporting Red River Métis Citizens during this crisis is truly inspiring. The MMF’s dedication to securing not just shelter, but a holistic and comfortable environment for displaced families, allowed us to leverage our expertise in furnished rental accommodations for the greatest good.

On our side, we’re just grateful to be part of a community that is looking out for one another,” said Cameron Finnson. “Supporting the Cormier family was a small gesture in the grand scheme of things, but it speaks to what’s possible when businesses can work alongside, especially with the MMF… we’re committed to continuing this work and growing these partnerships and finding new ways to support the Métis community through housing and other initiatives beyond that as well.”

Emergency housing should always be dignified, comfortable, and responsive to individual needs. We remain committed to our role in supporting our communities, especially during difficult times.

Learn more about our mission and services at www.nesthost.ca

To read the full story of the Cormier-Beck family and the MMF’s efforts, visit the Le Métis article at www. mmf.mb.ca/le-metis/le-metis-july-9-2025 .

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