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A fire near Blind River last Thursday left two Mississauga First Nation elders homeless, separated due to a lack of suitable housing.

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Larry and Leona Boyer – a former chef and nurse – now find themselves displaced, highlighting the challenges seniors face during crises and the need for community support.

Larry, 80, and Leona, 86, had lived together at Mississagi River Band Housing 8, at 167 Ella Drive, for more than 30 years. In the late 1980s, Larry became involved with the Mississauga First Nation Band Council and later served two terms as Chief. Over the years, he also volunteered as a bingo attendant, officiated baseball games, helped prepare fish fries in the community and organized events for seniors, according to his daughter, Susan Miller .

Leona was a nurse at Blind River and later worked at the women’s shelter, until mobility issues led her to retire, Miller said.

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The couple have a blended family of children from previous relationships and also raised two of Leona’s grandchildren.

The night before the fire on October 24, Larry, recently diagnosed with dementia, was admitted to hospital after experiencing an episode, leaving Leona alone at home.

Miller told the Sault Star that a daycare worker across the street “heard the fire crackling” and “started banging on the door and calling for help.”

A neighbor heard the commotion and called Glen Morningstar for help. “It was Steven Morningstar who forced the back door and saved Leona,” Miller said.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.

Since the fire, Leona has lived with her daughter on the reserve, while Larry remains in the hospital.

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Although Larry was cleared for release on Monday, another episode on Tuesday required continued monitoring. On Thursday, the family met with their doctor to figure out next steps.

After his release, Larry temporarily stays with another girl, Amber Niganobe, in Mississauga First Nation, although this is not a permanent solution due to limited space.

On Wednesday, the Mississauga First Nation band office offered the Boyers a vacant home on the reserve, which requires accessibility modifications, including the installation of a ramp that will take about two weeks.

The group did not respond at the time of publication regarding its role in supporting the Boyers.

Miller, who lives in Oshawa, Ontario, is visiting this weekend to help care for his father.

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On Monday, Leona was able to visit Larry in hospital – bringing the couple together for the first time since the fire.

Miller shared a moment of levity between the two: “When my dad saw Leona, he said, ‘Oh, you lost your teeth,’ and Leona said, ‘Yeah, I lost everything except you.’ “

Miller is happy that their humor endures, although she shared that they are “sad and devastated by the whole situation.”

“The only thing they care about,” said Susan, “is being together.” »

Although the house offered to the group is a promising temporary solution, ongoing challenges remain as the family navigates insurance claims, long-term housing and other logistical hurdles.

To ease their burden during this transition, Jason Miller, Larry’s son-in-law, created a GoFundMe page to help Larry and Leona Boyer rebuild their lives. So far, just over $6,300 has been raised of their $10,000 goal.

Donations will be used directly to meet essential needs such as clothing, hearing aids, glasses, dentures and mobility aids, as well as to cover the costs of personal support workers and health care services, the fundraising page says.

As the Boyer family faces this difficult time, Miller hopes their story will shine a light on the challenges seniors face in times of crisis and the need for community support.

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The Local Journalism Initiative is made possible with funding from the federal government

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