Slave Lake, fire-ravaged, eagerly awaits royals husband, amazing, always, Wendy, watch

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Slave Lake, fire-ravaged, eagerly awaits royals

SLAVE LAKE, Alta. — Wendy Paulson says she's imagined many times what it would be like to meet Prince William and Kate.


"I would watch them and I would jokingly say, 'Wouldn't it be amazing to meet them? Wouldn't it be amazing if they came to Slave Lake?'" Paulson said.


Her husband, Kyle, always told her: "It ain't never gonna happen."


Well, hold on.


Later Wednesday, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be in Slave Lake after all, to survey the damage done by a devastating wildfire that ravaged the northern Alberta town seven weeks ago.


"It's so exciting. There's just no words to describe it," said Paulson, whose house, along with hundreds of others, burned down. "It's lifted people's spirits in Slave Lake. It really has."


The appearance of the royal couple is equally exciting for Sahlee Doyaoen, who said she prayed that the William and Kate would consider a visit to Slave Lake.


"I think the Lord heard my prayers," she said.


A temporary worker from the Philippines, Doyaoen and her roommate lost their homes and all their possessions in the fire, but volunteered to come back into the community after the blaze to help cook and clean for emergency workers. She said the visit is something for the town to celebrate.


"We feel very great, because at least they want to share their sympathy with us and visit our place," she said. "We feel very good and very lucky. Canada is a very big country, and they chose Slave Lake to visit."


Word of the royal couple's visit spread quickly through the community after it was officially announced Tuesday.


Best friends Raylene Yurkewich and Kirsten Gamble hope to see the couple Wednesday at their appearance at the Northern Lights College, if Gamble can somehow get out of work.


"My dad told me about it and I didn't believe him," said Gamble, 16.


Then the duo saw the sign outside the Sawridge Inn that read "Welcome Will and Kate."


Gamble watched the royal couple get married on TV and she said shocked they're now coming to her hometown.


"It's kind of weird that they're coming to Slave Lake, like the smallest town. It's exciting," she said.


Yurkewich is most excited to see the Duchess, who's known for her style.


"I notice her more than her man," the 16-year-old said with a laugh. "I think it's kinda cool (that they're coming) because they're, like, the prince and princess."


Kyle and Wendy Paulson said people's spirits were already high in the wake of a concert last weekend that brought in acts such as Dwight Yoakum and Ashley MacIsaac.

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Some residents displaced by the fire are making their way back to town to catch a glimpse of the royal couple.


Bernice Stertz, a faithful follower of the royal family, lost her home in the fire and will drive 175 kilometres from her current address in Enilda, Alta., to Slave Lake for Will and Kate's visit.


"I just love to keep track of them," she said. "I did the same with Diana."


Stertz said she used to have royal paraphernalia, including a book on Diana, William's mother, but everything was lost in the blaze.


The couple will touch down in Slave Lake airport at about 11:30 a.m. local time, where they will be met by Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach and Slave Lake Mayor Karina Pillay-Kinnee.


From there, they will tour the town and view the most devastated areas. They will meet at a college later in the afternoon with about 50 residents.


Lifelong Slave Lake resident Mary Giroux, 93, hopes she will be one of the lucky few who gets to meet the couple.


"She is really excited for them to come," said her granddaughter, Vanessa.


Giroux lost her home of 33 years in the blaze that destroyed more than 300 others, along with businesses and the library.


The premier also expressed his appreciation for the visit.


"Throughout the royal tour, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have demonstrated that they are caring and compassionate people who love this country," Stelmach said in a news release.


"The fires that ravaged Slave Lake and the surrounding area began as a tragedy, but have turned into a story highlighting the strength, determination and courage of Slave Lake and area residents as they rebuild their fire ravaged town."


Some residents looked through their belongings in the charred rubble. Five weeks after the fire that engulfed parts of Slave Lake, Alta., June 21, 2011, the community begins the task of clean-up and setting plans to rebuild