Volunteers serve up renovation plan for Fort McMurray bar closed since wildfire

Money, materials and muscle have come together to help a Fort McMurraypubowner who has been struggling to rebuild after the 2016 Fort McMurraywildfire.

Rather than see another St Patrick's Day pass without their local watering hole, Billy Martin helped assemblea team of donors, volunteers and contractors to help rebuild one of FortMcMurray'sbetter-known haunts:Paddy McSwiggins.

"It's a FortMcMurraylandmark," said Martin, who was one of the pub's patrons.

Today the bar's windows are covered with orange tarps and its signature yellow siding is fading.

"Sad to say it's an eyesore right now," Martin said. "It's a scar on the community."

This isn't the first time Martin has taken on a makeover challenge.

The local contractor and his volunteers grabbed provincial headlines when he and other Fort McMurray volunteers repaired and renovated a mobile home for the family of a little girl with heart issues.

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At the time they called it "Extreme Makeover Fort McMurray Edition."

Therapy on tap

Before the fire, Paddy McSwigginswas a gathering place for many. It was the kind of place, Martin said, where one could walk inand know everyone.

The kind of place where you can unload and confide in familiar faces.

Therapy was on tapeven if you didn't order a drink.

Saving a Fort McMurray 'landmark'

6 years ago

Duration 1:26

Money, materials and muscle have come together to help a Fort McMurray pub owner who has been struggling to rebuild after the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire.

Martin and others want to bring that back.

"That's how we are marketing it," Martin said. "Get Fort Mac back to normal."

'This bar has been 20 years of my life'

On Monday evening thefundraisingteammet inside the pub to launch the campaign.

OwnerGareth Norris reminiscedwith old customersand reflected on howdifficultthe last two years have been to get the bar up and running.

In May 2016,staff leftthe ventilation system on, which sucked in wildfire ash and debris during themonth-longevacuation.

The bar sustained heavy smoke damage.

The wood panelling, carpets and insulation had to bethrown out.

Unlike other businesses, Norris has had a hard time getting his insurance company to cover the costs.

The battle, which is now in court, has taken a toll on Norris and his wife.

They have drained their retirement savings still paying theirmonthly commercial rent for the bar.

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Now, with the help of the fundraising group, Martin and Norris hope they can raise enough to do the needed repairs.

Norris estimates with the help of loans and business grants he'll be able to cover most of the $800,000to replaceappliances, the floors andthe walls but still needs help raising the remaining $300,000.

"This bar has been 20 years of my life," Norris said. "It's been everything to me. It's what feeds my kids. It's what pays my mortgage."

Norris hopes to finally re-open his bar in March, in time for St Patrick's Day.

Connect with David Thurton, CBC'sFort McMurraycorrespondent, onFacebook,Twitter,LinkedInor email him atdavid.thurton@cbc.ca