William and Kate detour to fire-ravaged Slave Lake (AFP)

CALGARY, Canada (AFP) – Prince William and wife Catherine made a detour in their Canadian visit Wednesday to Slave Lake, where 400 homes and businesses were razed by forest fires in Canada's second-costliest disaster.

Some 7,000 people fled the town, 280 kilometers (155 miles) north of Edmonton, Alberta, when outback fires fanned by strong winds suddenly swept through in mid-May. It led to the complete evacuation of the town and the largest such displacement in the province's history.

According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, the fires caused CAN$700 million (US$725 million) in damage. Only the havoc left by ice storms that hit eastern Quebec and Ontario provinces in 1998 cost more to clean up -- CAN$1.8 billion (US$1.9 billion).

Incredibly, no fatalities or injuries resulted from the Slave Lake disaster as families fled with only their pets and photo albums in hand, waiting up to six weeks after the blazes cooled to return and sift through ash and debris.

"I'm very excited by (the royal visit)," Sandi Gaskell whose home was destroyed told public broadcaster CBC prior to William and Kate's arrival. She has been living in a trailer at a campground and has only just returned to work.

"I suppose it distracts from our own situation. We've lost something. We've lost lots. It's an exciting occasion."

As Slave Lake residents begin to rebuild, another area resident added: "Kate and Will coming will give us the boost to get through this and know that better things are coming."

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met privately with members of the local fire brigade, ambulance crews, policemen and residents during a two-hour stopover in Slave Lake, as well as toured the devastation.

Trip organizers said they had waited until the last minute to confirm the stop because they wanted to be assured that the couple's presence would not disrupt the recovery.

The couple had originally planned to take a day off from the meeting and greeting, and official ceremonies, and sneak away for a romantic Rocky Mountain getaway.

After the stop in Slave Lake, they are to head to Calgary for the last scheduled leg of their tour taking in a rodeo on Thursday and Friday, before departing for California on July 9.

In advance of the newly-weds' arrival in Calgary, thousands of well-wishers began lining streets as early as Tuesday for a chance to see the royal golden couple when they land in the nerve center of Canada's oil sector.

On Tuesday, the couple played a bit of hockey in Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories, the disputed birthplace of Canada's national pastime -- several Canadian cities and towns lay claim to the title "cradle of hockey".

Aboriginals there signed Canada's first Arctic treaty 112 years ago at the height of the Klondike Gold Rush with William's great-great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria. A century later, she is still affectionately referred to as "grandmother" by locals.

Their enthusiasm for William and Catherine was unbridled, going absolutely wild when the prince ended a speech saying "Mahsi Cho" and "Quyanainni," Dene and Inuvialuktun words for "thank you."

Dene is spoken throughout the territory, including in the capital of Yellowknife, while Inuvialuktun is spoken by the Inuvialuit along the coast of the Arctic Ocean.

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William, Kate visit devastated Canadian town (AP)

SLAVE LAKE, Alberta – Prince William and Kate made a detour from their official itinerary on Wednesday so they could visit the northern Alberta town of Slave Lake, heavily damaged by a wildfire in May.

The royal couple landed at the community airport, where they boarded a bus with large windows for a tour of devastated neighborhoods. They saw burned-out cars, blackened trees and the remains of what had once been family homes — now reduced to charred basement foundations.

The couple walked down a street, asked many questions, and even stopped to touch one demolished car. At one point, William reached down to examine the rubble, then studied the ash on his hands.

After about 20 minutes, they headed to a local college, where a crowd that had been gathering since early morning chanted "Will and Kate" and "We Love Slave Lake."

The two waved briefly before heading inside to meet about 50 residents, who sat in plastic chairs at folding tables in the gymnasium. The duke and duchess stopped at each table to shake hands and chat. William patted one woman's shoulder.

They emerged for a walkabout to the delight of everyone.

The couple made the detour to Slave Lake with the hope of bringing some much-needed cheer to residents who face the daunting task of rebuilding their fire-scarred town. The northern Alberta community was not on the official royal itinerary, but the couple wanted to make a special stop to show support for the many people who lost everything.

More than 400 homes and businesses — about one-third of the town — were reduced to ash and debris when a wind-whipped forest fire swept through in May. The fire forced 7,000 people to flee in what was the largest evacuation in Alberta's history.

The newlyweds are on the seventh day of their nine-day trip to Canada, part of the first official overseas trip for the couple who wed on April 29. After the Slave Lake visit, they departed for some private time at an undisclosed location before their next official stop in Calgary late Thursday afternoon. Wednesday was originally scheduled to be a day of rest.

The fires left many wondering what — if anything — they would find upon their return. Some houses were undamaged, but others were razed and families have been forced to seek temporary accommodation.

The people gathered outside the college were pressed four and five deep against the barricades, eager for a glimpse of the royal visitors.

"It is very, very exciting for our town and our community," resident Shauna Fiddler said. "It will hopefully lift the spirits of many people who have had their spirits quite dampened."

Dwayne Verschoor, whose home was destroyed, said he can't believe the royals made a point of coming to visit.

"It's a pretty big honor and a privilege even for them to think of us over here in a small little town," he said.

Some Slave Lake residents are living in campers and mobile homes. Lucky ones, such as nursery school teacher Karen Scharf, have found rental housing. She said it's a tight squeeze with five adults, two dogs and a cat, but at least they'll have a roof over their heads for the winter.

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William and Kate detour to fire-ravaged Slave Lake (AFP)

CALGARY, Canada (AFP) – Prince William and wife Catherine made a detour in their Canadian visit Wednesday to Slave Lake, where 400 homes and businesses were razed by forest fires in Canada's second-costliest disaster.

Some 7,000 people fled the town, 280 kilometers (155 miles) north of Edmonton, Alberta, when outback fires fanned by strong winds suddenly swept through in mid-May. It led to the complete evacuation of the town and the largest such displacement in the province's history.

According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, the fires caused CAN$700 million (US$725 million) in damage. Only the havoc left by ice storms that hit eastern Quebec and Ontario provinces in 1998 cost more to clean up -- CAN$1.8 billion (US$1.9 billion).

Incredibly, no fatalities or injuries resulted from the Slave Lake disaster as families fled with only their pets and photo albums in hand, waiting up to six weeks after the blazes cooled to return and sift through ash and debris.

"I'm very excited by (the royal visit)," Sandi Gaskell whose home was destroyed told public broadcaster CBC prior to William and Kate's arrival. She has been living in a trailer at a campground and has only just returned to work.

"I suppose it distracts from our own situation. We've lost something. We've lost lots. It's an exciting occasion."

As Slave Lake residents begin to rebuild, another area resident added: "Kate and Will coming will give us the boost to get through this and know that better things are coming."

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met privately with members of the local fire brigade, ambulance crews, policemen and residents during a two-hour stopover in Slave Lake, as well as toured the devastation.

Trip organizers said they had waited until the last minute to confirm the stop because they wanted to be assured that the couple's presence would not disrupt the recovery.

The couple had originally planned to take a day off from the meeting and greeting, and official ceremonies, and sneak away for a romantic Rocky Mountain getaway.

After the stop in Slave Lake, they are to head to Calgary for the last scheduled leg of their tour taking in a rodeo on Thursday and Friday, before departing for California on July 9.

In advance of the newly-weds' arrival in Calgary, thousands of well-wishers began lining streets as early as Tuesday for a chance to see the royal golden couple when they land in the nerve center of Canada's oil sector.

On Tuesday, the couple played a bit of hockey in Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories, the disputed birthplace of Canada's national pastime -- several Canadian cities and towns lay claim to the title "cradle of hockey".

Aboriginals there signed Canada's first Arctic treaty 112 years ago at the height of the Klondike Gold Rush with William's great-great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria. A century later, she is still affectionately referred to as "grandmother" by locals.

Their enthusiasm for William and Catherine was unbridled, going absolutely wild when the prince ended a speech saying "Mahsi Cho" and "Quyanainni," Dene and Inuvialuktun words for "thank you."

Dene is spoken throughout the territory, including in the capital of Yellowknife, while Inuvialuktun is spoken by the Inuvialuit along the coast of the Arctic Ocean.

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Prince William, Kate undeterred by Quebec protests (AP)

QUEBEC CITY – Prince William and Kate thrilled hundreds of adoring fans with an unscheduled walkabout in a city that was the site of the key British victory in the conquest of the French — a historical event not forgotten by French-speaking separatists protesting nearby.

The newlyweds were on the fourth day of a nine-day trip to Canada, part of their first official overseas trip since their April 29 wedding.

The Sunday visit hit a nerve among French-speaking separatists. Prince William and Kate had a private lunch at the Citadelle, a fortified residence where the British flag was raised at the end of the pivotal 1759 Battle of Quebec, when British forces defeated the French to seal the conquest of New France.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as they are officially known, encountered small but vocal protests for the second straight day during their visit to predominantly French-speaking Quebec, following protests in Montreal.

"What they've seen in Quebec, in Montreal the last two days is, for them, just part of the rich fabric of Canada and in no way detracts from how much they respect and admire the country," said the couple's spokesman, Miguel Head. He added that the couple have been impressed by the welcome they've received.

"They've very much fallen in love with the country," Miguel said.

The jeers contrasted with the start of the royal couple's Canadian trip in the largely English-speaking capital, Ottawa, where they were cheered by tens of thousands of people on Friday's Canada Day holiday.

Quebec separatists are angry that Canada still has ties to the monarchy. Queen Elizabeth II is still the country's head of state.

Police were out in force in downtown Quebec City. About 200 protesters, some wearing black and waving flags, demonstrated about two blocks from City Hall, where Prince William, a Royal Air Force helicopter pilot, attended a ceremony to honor and inspect the Royal 22e Regiment, the most famous French-speaking unit in the Canadian military.

A larger crowd of several hundred supporters, chanting "Will and Kate" were allowed closer to City Hall and greeted the royal motorcade with loud cheers when it arrived.

After a military band played the first six bars of "God Save the Queen," Prince William made brief remarks entirely in French.

"You, the Quebecois et Quebecoise, have such vitality and a remarkable pride. We are simply delighted to be here," he said. "Thank you for your patience with my accent, and I hope that we will have the chance to get to know each other over the years to come. Until the next time. See you soon."

The crowd laughed when he mentioned his accent and then started cheering. Undeterred by the nearby protesters, Prince William and Kate further charmed the Quebeckers with an unexpected walkabout. The royal couple went to the barricade, chatting and shaking hands with enthusiastic supporters in the square around City Hall before leaving by motorcade.

Alexandra Powell, a 20-year-old French-Canadian, said the royal couple greeted her with "Bonjour" before she shook Kate's hand.

"I think it's a childhood dream to be a princess and meet the monarchy," said Powell. "I'm still shaking a little bit."

Police set up barriers to keep the protesters away from City Hall, but the demonstrators brought a pickup truck with audio equipment and speakers to amplify their chants. They carried signs reading "Pay your own way" and "The monarchy, it's over."

The protesters chanted "RRQ," the initials of the anti-monarchist, separatist group, Reseau de Resistance du Quebecois, or Quebecker Resistance Network, which organized the protests in Montreal and Quebec City.

"We do not recognize the authority, the legitimacy of the Crown, of the monarchy here in Quebec and it's not a national symbol for us," said Maxime Laporte of the RRQ.

"It's rather a symbol of imperialism, of war crimes against humanity, against our people."

The group claimed responsibility for a banner carrying the slogan "Vive le Quebec libre" that flew from an airplane over Quebec City for an hour.

"I came today because I think it's important to show that we don't agree that our money still pays for an old symbol," said Stephanie Rainville, 22. "I think it's to show the generations coming that the fight is not over."

The newlyweds arrived in Quebec City on Sunday morning on a Canadian navy frigate after an overnight trip from Montreal down the picturesque St. Lawrence Seaway.

Prince William and Kate sang hymns as they took part in a bilingual interfaith prayer service on the deck of the HMCS Montreal after it docked in Quebec City. They then headed ashore for a meeting with residents of La Maison Dauphine, a center that helps homeless youths.

In a nod to Quebeckers, Kate wore a dark blue lace Jacquenta dress by the designer Erdem. It was the second time during the trip that she wore a dress from the collection of the Montreal-born, London-based Erdem Moralioglu. She later wore a cream-colored Vanessa sleeveless crepe dress by Joseph at an event at Forts-de-Levis that was attended by several hundred supporters. The couple did a longer walkabout there.

The fort, built between 1865 and 1872, completed a defense network protecting Quebec from a possible U.S. land invasion.

A 2009 visit by Prince William's father, Prince Charles, to Montreal was disrupted by more than 200 separatist protesters. The protesters sat in the street, blocking the prince's way into a ceremony planned at an armory, and threw eggs at the soldiers who were accompanying him and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall. The couple were forced to enter the building through a back door and missed an elaborate welcoming ceremony that had been planned.

In 1990, Canada Day celebrations were disrupted briefly by protesters from Quebec who booed and turned their back on Queen Elizabeth.

New Canadian citizens still pledge allegiance to the queen during their swearing-in ceremony.

Support for the separatists among Quebeckers has been on the decline in recent years as the 80-percent French-speaking province has enjoyed plenty of autonomy even without quitting Canada.

"As far as I'm concerned they're welcome here anytime. These young people need a chance. If their ancestors messed up, they need a chance to be forgiven," said John Harbour, 58, a French-Canadian master mariner, who was among dozens of onlookers hoping for a glimpse of the royal couple at the Quebec City waterfront.

The royal couple arrived later Sunday at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, welcomed by a piping band. The Atlantic province is famed as the home of the literary character "Anne of Green Gables." They will meet the actors who play the musical theater roles based on the 1908 book by Lucy Maud Montgomery.

Prince William, a Royal Air Force rescue helicopter pilot, will pilot and land a helicopter on the water for the first time on Monday. William personally requested the training exercise to be a part of his visit to Canada.

They leave Canada for a three-day trip to California on July 8.

___

Associated Press Writer Rob Gillies in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, contributed to this story.

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