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Businesses step up to help Fort McMurray

Businesses step up to help Fort McMurray

While the world nervously watches wildfires eat their way through 210,000 acres surrounding Fort McMurray, the beating heart of Canada’s oil sector, businesses both local and countrywide are stepping up to help the more than 88,000 residents forced from their homes.

“The outpouring of goodwill and compassion from Canadians right across the country has not only been inspirational, it has been entirely characteristic of who we are and the fundamental human values we share as Canadians,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in the House of Commons on Thursday. The Federal government has pledged to match individual donations to the Canadian Red Cross. So far the relief organization has collected $11 million.

Major oil and gas companies including Suncor, Syncrude Canada Ltd. and Royal Dutch Shell, have housed evacuees at work camps north of the city and reduced output to allow workers and their families to flee to safety.

Mining magnate and founder of Barrick Gold, Peter Munk has followed Ottawa’s lead, pledging $1 million to the Canadian Red Cross, saying the tragedy gives him flashbacks to his own refugee roots.

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“We are all in this together,” he told The Globe and Mail. “This particular event, more than any other, is a great occasion for Canadians to show that we have the same values as the people who created this country and received all of us. … No country had more open arms than us.”

Canada’s big five major banks CIBC, TD, RBC, BMO and Scotiabank have all pledged $100,000 to the Red Cross in order to help evacuees and residents with most offering special breaks for clients, such as deferred loan payments.

“Our message is simple: we’re here to help,” said Susan Brown, senior vice president for the Alberta and North West Territories Division of BMO in a press release.

The NHL’s Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames each donated $100,000 to the Red Cross, with the league itself throwing $100,000 into the hat for the relief organization. The Canadian Football League has also collected $50,000 total from its nine teams.

Grocery chains Safeway and Sobeys have committed to matching in-store donations to Red Cross relief up to $100,000.

Offering more than money

With over a thousand homes lost already, home-sharing giant Airbnb has opened up a microsite devoted to finding free accommodations for those affected by the tragedy.

“Our thoughts are with all of Fort McMurray as they confront this devastating wildfire,” says a statement from the company. “To aid in the response, Airbnb has activated our Disaster Response Tool, encouraging our host community in the surrounding area of Edmonton to aid displaced residents with housing.”

The site will remain active until May 21. So far, there are 138 listings.

“Free for Fort McMurray people,” reads one. “We are waiting for you at any time.”

Boston Pizza has also taken its own approach, working with the Edmonton Emergency Relief Services and the Government of Alberta’s Emergency Operations Centre and giving more than $100,000 worth of food vouchers redeemable at any of the chain’s restaurants.

The meal and drink vouchers will be doled out at evacuation centres.

While a good portion of the money donated to the Red Cross from Canadians will go to immediate physical and psychological needs, as the fires still burn, it has become clear that the Fort McMurray of the future will be a different one than the “FortMac” that seemingly rose out of the oil sands not so long ago.

“It’s going to take four or five years,” Jean-Philippe Tizi, vice-president of emergency management at the Red Cross told The Globe and Mail. “But we’ll be there as long as it takes.”

To donate, visit the Red Cross.