Patricia Street Deli knows what it’s like to rebuild after loss. They’re supporting those affected by the Canadian Forces Base Wainwright fire the best way they know how – with some good food. “In the last 24 hours, I’ve probably made a good 300 sandwiches. I have cramps in my hands,” general manager Jenna Kreklewetz told CTV News Edmonton on Tuesday. Patricia Street Deli was originally a popular Jasper location before wildfires decimated its storefront in 2024. The deli reopened on 111 Street in the capital city after months of renovations and community support. Since news broke of the fire that killed four and injured dozens more at CFB Wainwright on Oct. 17, the Edmonton-based deli has been preparing food for affected loved ones. As of Tuesday, there were still 27 soldiers in hospital. “The university hospital reached out to us and asked if we could provide some meals,” owner Jamie Kreklewetz said. “We were like, ‘Absolutely.’” Their customers answered the call, too, through the store’s kindness sandwich program, where each purchase of a sandwich turns into another sandwich for someone in need of a meal. Jamie said it was nice to “give back, and let these people know that there is a community thinking about them.” Meanwhile, a call for blood in the aftermath of CFB Wainwright was also met in stride by Edmontonians. Canadian Blood Services spokesperson Tianna Doyle says four times the number of appointments normally seen were booked on a Sunday the day after the fire. While that’s not unusual after an event like Wainwright, she noted that donations have been particularly high. “There’s an outpouring of support in terms of people coming out and donating, and selling out clinics that far in advance,” she told CTV News Edmonton. “It is really important that people consistently continue to come out.” With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Curtis Goodrum
