This past May 2, 2016, in Fort McMurray,Alberta,Canada, a sudden burst of flames had apparently started in a few trees and due to high winds,had spread rapidly until it engulfed the entire city.At this time, around 40 wildfires at latest count. It had already affected a huge span of land ( approx. 150,000 acres)and probably still growing yet and most of the residents(around 88,000) had to evacuate immediately and drive down to the nearest big city of Edmonton or travel out to other parts of Alberta province as well as to other parts of Canada.
Amazingly, no one got hurt or killed from these still ongoing wildfires and accdg. to experts, the fires are still raging at this time and the effects from these wildfires will last a long time. It’s highly unlikely that things will go back to normal soon.
Fort McMurray or what we call as Fort Mac was an evergrowing city of migrants coming from all over Canada to take advantage of job opportunities in the oil well industry. Unfortunately, due to the world wide oil price crisis and now the wildfires, it only exacerbated the careers and bottom lines of these workers and their respective families.
It hits home here in Atlantic Canada since a lot of folks from New Brunswick,Nova Scotia,Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland had gone to Fort Mac to look for work in Alberta province, the land of milk and honey especially in the oil well business. Some of these Maritimers came back home with only the shirts on their backs and probably no careers to return to from there.
It really goes to show how life can be unpredictable when a fire can wipe out your life or lifestyle in a flash. The silver lining is that charity and the drive to help out kicks in. As they say here in Canada, it’s the Canadian way—to help others in times of need.
Around here in Canada, most of the stores and other business establishments had set up posts to receive cash donations for the Fort MacMurray victims, all proceeds to be given to their local Canadian Red Cross office.
Even our prime minister Justin Trudeau will match $ for $ each cash donation on behalf of the Canadian government with this regard.
Overall, here in Canada ,one can make a donation online through the Alberta Fires Appeal online—-www.redcross.ca or 1-800-418-1111. One can also go their local Canadian Red Cross office to give monetary donations whether cash,check or credit.
It is much better and more convenient to give monetary donations since it’ll reach the province of Alberta much faster and much easier there to purchase whatever supplies would be needed.
For all of those Canadian expats and anyone who live abroad and would like to help out, they can go their local Red Cross , Red Crescent office,.Red Cross Society base,etc. to give their monetary donations.
I am fully aware of what this entails since I am an employee for the Canadian Red Cross in my district. Even though I’m not directly involved with Search and Rescue nor in the Volunteer Services Department, my local CRC branch feels like a big family trying to help out in any way possible.
I feel that with my blog, I could help in this endeavor by being a voice for help because with the Red Cross, we are here to serve.
My prayers go out to the Fort Mac victims.
Josie
josiesvoice 