A Manitoba couple who had just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary are now starting over after their home on Lake Winnipeg was destroyed by fire.
Reg and Sadie Harder lost their home and all of their belongings on Dec. 26, 2025, after a fire tore through the property while they were enjoying retirement at the lake.
According to their daughter, Brenda Robert, the loss has been devastating, not only because of the suddenness of the fire, but because the home was uninsured at the time.
The Harders had recently completed a major addition to the house and had passed all required inspections. However, when they attempted to secure home insurance, they were told coverage could not be issued due to nearby wildfire conditions. The insurance provider advised them to wait until it was confirmed that muskeg in the area was no longer smouldering underground. Insurance coverage was scheduled to begin in January 2026.
The fire occurred before that could happen.
“This was supposed to be a time of rest and enjoyment for them,” Robert said. “Instead, everything they worked for was taken from them in a matter of minutes.”
The loss marks the third time Reg and Sadie have had to rebuild their lives from scratch.
In 1999, the couple lost the business Reg had built himself since the age of 17. They later moved to High River to rebuild, only to lose everything again during the devastating 2013 floods. During that disaster, Sadie was stranded alone for two days before being rescued by boat.
After the flood, the couple returned to Manitoba and rebuilt once more, this time hoping their retirement years would finally bring stability.
Unlike previous hardships, Robert says this time is different.
“My parents are retired now. They don’t have the same ability to start over on their own,” she said. “They need help, even though they would never ask for it themselves.”
The couple is currently staying in Robert’s basement while family members work to secure a small apartment and begin the long process of rebuilding. With no permanent housing in place, there is also limited storage available for donated or salvaged items.
Robert has launched a fundraising effort to help cover temporary housing, furnishings, and rebuilding costs, and is asking the community to help by donating or sharing the family’s story. Learn more here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/devastating-fire-total-loss-please-help-my-parents
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