Community rallies around family devastated by fire

Dennis Lafreniere and his wife were set to celebrate their 27th wedding anniversary in a Selkirk hotel room, yet they were mourning a recent house fire. The couple, along with their two daughters, had lost their home in a devastating blaze on Sunday, leaving them with nothing but overwhelming support from multiple communities. Dennis, 66, believes the fire was caused by an overheated electrical line involving a fridge, freezer, and battery charger.

The family was staying at the Canalta Hotel in Selkirk while they sorted out insurance and began the process of rebuilding their lives. The local motorcycle club, the Thursday Night Riders, rallied together and raised close to $18,000 for the family through an online fundraiser.