On Saturday night, February 14, 2026, Priscilla Calliou, Clayton Cunningham and their son Samuel were sleeping when Clayton woke up to the smell of smoke. He went upstairs to investigate. Once he turned the corner at the landing, he saw the top floor of the house filled with smoke. He ran downstairs to wake Priscilla and Samuel. By the time they woke, their home was engulfed in flames. They made it out with their lives—but nothing else. Thankfully, their daughter Layla spent the night at a friend's house.

In those few terrifying minutes, they lost everything: their clothes, their furniture, and their children’s belongings. They also lost their beloved dog, Lucy; she was their baby, the laughter, playful, light, joy and love of their home. She was not only a faithful companion but a little mother caring for our family. When anyone was upset or hurt, she was the first one there, comforting and caring for them. The grief of that loss alone is hard to put into words.

A Family Rooted in Culture and Community

Priscilla and her family have always chosen to live close to the land in the Kelly Lake community, embracing their Cree culture and raising their children in a place rich with tradition and family. Their home was more than walls and a roof—it was where Priscilla planted her garden every year to help feed the family, where memories of her mom, Liz, were kept alive, and where the children grew up surrounded by the values of hard work, resilience, and community.

Because of their remote location, the family did not have home insurance. The community of Kelly Lake has very limited support services for families dealing with loss or crisis. Right now, Priscilla and her family are temporarily staying with her sister Rebecca, and they are facing the enormous task of rebuilding from nothing.

What They Need

Right now (first 72 hours): Emergency supplies including medications, hygiene essentials, phone chargers, and cash or gift cards for food and immediate necessities.

In the coming weeks: Seasonal clothing and shoes for the whole family, stable shelter, replacement of essential documents (identification, bank records), and access to counselling and emotional support to help them process this trauma.

Long-term: A new place to call home. Priscilla’s dream is simple—a safe home for her children, and soil to plant her garden again.

Strength Through Family

Even in the midst of this heartbreak, Priscilla’s resilient spirit has inspired her family to keep moving forward. They are drawing strength from one another, from their culture, and from the close-knit bonds that have always carried them through difficult times. The road ahead is long, but this family is determined to rebuild—and they cannot do it alone.

How You Can Help

• Donate: Every contribution, big or small, makes a real difference. Even a few dollars add up when a community comes together.

• Share: Please share this page with your friends, family, and networks. The wider this reaches, the more support this family will receive.

• Gift cards: Give the family flexibility to purchase exactly what they need most.

The Calliou/Cunningham family has always given to their community. Now they need their community to rally around them. With your generosity, they can begin to heal, rebuild, and plant new roots.

With gratitude and hope,

The Calliou Family