Steelworkers Humanity Fund donates $20,000 to support wildfire relief efforts in Alberta and other parts of Western Canada
August 07 2024 - 3:52PM
The Steelworkers Humanity Fund (SHF) is donating $20,000 to support
people and communities evacuated by the recent wildfires in Jasper,
Alta., and for future relief efforts in Western Canada this year.
Two weeks ago, more than 20,000 residents of Jasper were ordered
to evacuate as wildfires that raged in the adjacent National Park
destroyed a third of the scenic town. A firefighter tragically lost
his life while combating the blaze last weekend.
Many United Steelworkers (USW) union members in the Jasper area
have been affected by the evacuation order, as have many families
and friends of USW members elsewhere in the country. Unfortunately,
the situation also is dire in many other parts of Western Canada,
especially in British Columbia, with potential risks in coming
weeks for more USW members and their communities.
The Steelworkers Humanity Fund is responding to the appeal sent
by the Canadian Red Cross with a $10,000 donation to support those
affected in Jasper and other areas in Alberta with immediate and
ongoing relief. This amount will be matched by each of the Canadian
and Alberta governments, tripling its impact. A second $10,000
donation from the SHF will be made in response to the Red Cross
Canadian Wildfire Appeal Fund to support people and communities
across the country, especially in Western Canada.
“The destruction of an important part of the town of Jasper
brought national and international attention to a phenomenon that
unfortunately is too well known in many communities across the
country,” said Marty Warren, Steelworkers Humanity Fund President
and USW National Director.
“We are proud to support organizations such as the Canadian Red
Cross as they step in to save lives in areas such as Jasper, and to
provide resources to intervene in future climate change-fuelled
disasters in other parts of Western Canada,” Warren said.
Anyone wishing to donate can visit the Red Cross 2024 Alberta
Wildfires Appeal (donations will be matched until Aug. 24, 2024),
or the Red Cross Canadian Wildfire Fund Appeal website.
Founded in 1985, the Steelworkers Humanity Fund is a registered
charitable organization that focuses primarily on development
projects and emergency aid in developing countries but also
supports Canadian communities. USW members contribute to the fund
through clauses negotiated into collective agreements. In some
cases, employers make matching contributions to the fund.
For further information:
Marty Warren, President, Steelworkers Humanity Fund,
416-544-5951Guillaume Charbonneau, Executive Director, Steelworkers
Humanity Fund, 416-544-5944, gcharbonneau@usw.caDenis St. Pierre,
USW Communications, 647-522-1630, dstpierre@usw.ca