Today is the 13th anniversary of the Elie Tornado.

RM of Cartier Reeve Dale Fossay recalls quite vividly this day those few years ago, and shares what happened.

"Well, June 22nd of 2007 was certainly a historic day for our small community where, what was believed to be at the time to be Canada's only tornado of the F5 strength, struck a portion of the village and took out four homes."

He notes the village was very fortunate. Fossay says the tornado followed for a mile or two out of town and grazed the edge of the village, then it disappeared upward before hitting a historical church and many other villages.

"And by coincidence or good fortune, it was the high school's graduation that evening in St. Eustache," continues Fossay. "Many residents were not home. I guess a bit of good fortune came with the bad storm. The path on the ground would have been about two or three kilometres. I, myself, was living on my farmyard ten miles away. I could distinctly see the funnel cloud and the debris field."

He adds he wasn't able to get to the community until a few hours later. The Reeve notes we hear of these things taking place south of the border, but until you see it personally, it's hard to relate to it. Fossay says the strength was overwhelming.

He says the support from the community for the families that suffered loss in the days following shows what Manitobans do. They show up when they're needed and slip away without requiring thanks until they're needed again. He says the strength of the community really shone through.