As flames engulfed Fort McMurray, Élise Boissonneult frantically packed her belongings and pets into her car. But one item she needed 鈥� an elegant strapless dress for her wedding in Toronto on Saturday 鈥� was left at the seamstress where it was being altered.
鈥淢y fiancé called me and he was in the south part of town,鈥� Boissonneult told 麻豆传媒 from Toronto. 鈥淗e couldn鈥檛 get to me. He said, 鈥榊ou need to pack everything and just get out of there and go north.鈥欌��
The seamstress鈥� shop, Boissonneult learned, was soon gutted by fire. All the time and effort spent picking out that perfect dress turned out to be in vain. And with her wedding scheduled for the leafy Toronto Island on Saturday, the 29-year-old massage therapist turned to social media for help.
Within hours, hundreds of offers had come in from across the country from former brides and bridal shops.
鈥淚鈥檓 just overwhelmed by the responses that I鈥檝e been getting,鈥� Boissonneult says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just unreal.鈥�
Soon after arriving in Toronto on Thursday, Boissonneult visited Lea-Ann Belter Bridal on Broadview Ave.
鈥淭he first dress that I had tried on was similar to the other dress, and it just kind of overwhelmed me with emotion,鈥� Boissonneult said. 鈥淚 just started crying, to be honest. And I think that it was best that I didn鈥檛 go with the dress that was similar.鈥�
Boissonneult now has two new dresses to wear: one for the wedding and another for the reception.
More good news has come from Fort McMurray: Boissonneult鈥檚 friends have told her that her house is still standing.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e so brave,鈥� she says of those who remain in Alberta. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 even imagine still being there.鈥�
