'We haven't had normal for eight months': Fort McMurray family excited to finally return home after wildfire
Konnie Williams still thinks about the first time she stood on the empty, burned lot of her house in the Beacon Hill neighbourhood of Fort McMurray, Alberta.
"You stand there and you watch everything you've worked so hard for for 25 to 30 years, gone."
Williams' home burned to the ground during the wildfire that swept through the area in May 2016.
2,400 structures were destroyed in the fire, when 88,000 people had to flee the flames.
Ever since then, Williams has been fighting to rebuild her house on the same lot, a process she said has been frustrating.
"It exhausts you … you fight every day for what you're entitled to."
Williams said difficulties getting permits and challenges with her insurance company have made it stressful. She and her husband applied for 13 different permits to build their new house.
"It's been a roller coaster," she said. "Half of you wants to go home and half of you wants to run as fast as you can … you face so many obstacles through the rebuild process."
Since the fire, about 300 rebuilding permits have been issued by Fort McMurray. That's only about 12 per cent of the structures that burned down. The urban service area expects many more people will rebuild their homes in 2017.
"Our country is under the impression that it's business as usual up here," said Williams. "It's far from that for many people."
Williams and her husband have strong ties to Fort McMurray and never questioned their desire to rebuild their home. They have both lived in the community for nearly 30 years, and their son was born there.
They were so determined to move back to their property as soon as possible that they ordered a ready-to-move home from Edmonton. It was delivered in early December, and they hope to move in in January.
In the meantime, they're living in student family housing at Keyano College, where Williams teaches. While she feels fortunate to be living there, she misses her own home and her own neighbourhood.
"We haven't had normal for eight months. And I can't wait to get back in our own home and get that back for my family. We need it."