MLAs help pack kits for wildfire evacuees

Premier Jason Kenney, along with GlobalMedic and Alberta MLAs from both official parties, packed between $16,000 and $18,000 worth of toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo and deodorant into kits at the Alberta legislature Wednesday for people affected by wildfires and to raise awareness of the impact these catastrophic events are having on Albertans.

“As a nation, we help each other,” said Rahul Singh, executive director of GlobalMedic, a registered Canadian charity that runs capacity building programs and provides disaster relief services to large-scale catastrophes around the world.

Wildfires began plaguing northern Alberta communities in May, with the biggest, the Chuckegg Creek fire, forcing the evacuation of High Level, La Crete and nearby Dene Tha’ First Nation, and destroying homes in the Paddle Prairie Métis Settlement.

As many as 9,000 people have been evacuated this month because of fires, and flooding has begun to affect areas of southwestern Alberta, according to GlobalMedic.

The simple toiletries packed into 800 hygiene kits Wednesday are important to families forced to flee their homes, but we often forget about them, said Singh. All of the supplies for the kits were donated.

“We want to make sure we have the right products in to help folks,” said Singh. “This is a good way to show to all Albertans how everyone can help — from private companies like Proctor and Gamble that are actually giving the product, to Air Canada that is flying it over, to our volunteers, medics, firefighters, to your government agencies who are helping — right to your MLAs, who are rolling up their sleeves and packing these kits.”

The kits will help to support people already affected and will increase the stockpile of aid available to those who may be affected by wildfires and flooding yet to come this season, said Singh.

“This is about Albertans rallying together,” said Singh. “It’s about getting the right aid to the right people at the right time.”

GlobalMedic provided disaster assistance after the 2016 fire in Fort McMurray and during the Calgary floods of 2013, and has responded to 211 disasters in 71 countries, including earthquakes in Ecuador, Haiti, Japan and Nepal, and tsunamis in Japan and Sri Lanka.