Ernie & Wendy Desjarlais

In the southernmost reaches of Wood Buffalo, the tight-knit hamlet of Conklin has a couple of big-hearted residents who have spent years ensuring their neighbours, and even the local fur babies, are looked after.

Ernie and Wendy Desjarlais were both raised to help where they could and have continued doing so for more than 30 years.

“He was living in Fort McMurray, and he moved to Conklin. He had lived here years ago when he was young, and then we met one year (1987) in Lac Ste. Anne at the annual pilgrimage. We just kind of started dating from there and built our relationship.”

One of the first calls to help as a couple came when Wendy was asked to foster a baby boy.

“When I was, I think, 21, I got a phone call asking if I would be able to take in a child. I didn’t even ask Ernie. I said, ‘Yes, we will,’” she chuckled.

Two years later in 1996, a second baby came into their care, and the Desjarlais raised both boys.

From there, the Desjarlais have continued to lend a hand where they could.

Helping to revive the Conklin Metis Local #193, Wendy also worked alongside other community board members to create a super board – the Conklin Resource Development Advisory Committee – to assist the community in working with industry and government.

Both are avid volunteers in the community, with Ernie serving as President of the Conklin Community Association from 1998 until 2019.

They did the community’s children’s Christmas shopping from 2001 until 2016, assisting the Conklin community association in ensuring that every child living in Conklin received a gift.

The Desjarlais have travelled to Edmonton to bring youth groups to attend the Dream Catcher conference, and Ernie was a tireless advocate in successfully obtaining a community medical van.

In 2011, Ernie started a small business and in 2019 decided to step back and concentrate on his company; however, the Desjarlais still continue to volunteer on a regular basis and advocate for the betterment of the residents in Conklin.

During the winter months, they provide straw for outdoor and stray dogs for a warm bed and deliver dogs to the spay and neuter clinics. They do food bank and prescription pick-ups in Fort McMurray for Elders and other residents. They teach traditional hunting and gathering to the next generation and even drive people to the bus stop.

“We’re in a position to do it, so we’re going to help,” said Wendy.

“It’s that smile and knowing, yeah, you’ve helped. You get to attend all the community events because we’re such a small community. So yeah, seeing all those happy faces on those kids at the community Christmas celebration, that’s good.”

The Desjarlais encourage others to be involved with their neighbours, with their communities.

“If you can help, do it. My parents brought me up that if you are there and someone needs help, and you’re able, physically able to help, you go and help. My parents raised us, right, and that’s how we raised our two boys. That’s how Ernie’s parents raised him as well. If they were able to help, they helped, and that’s what people should do.

“Kindness costs you nothing,” she stated.

“It’s a good experience helping other people,” added Ernie. “I like helping everyone. That’s what it means to me to share and to just help.”

Humbled by the title YMM Builders, the Desjarlais agreed that by helping and giving back to the community, they help build and keep it strong.

“Be the change you want to see,” quipped Wendy. “We’re such a small community. You wave at everybody, and yeah, sometimes you don’t always get a wave back, but you did it, and you know, that might have made them feel just a little bit better. You never know, right? It’s just a nice word to somebody and sometimes, that’s all we need, because we don’t know what kind of day they’re having.”