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yegcityofchamps-blog · 8 years ago

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What makes Edmonton A City of Champions? www.facebook.com/YEGcityofchamps

Being part of #AlbertStrong, May 2016 and for months after.

Some say that the deep love for the City of Champions spirit that Edmonton has is just for generations long passed by with time. This of course is just not true! Edmontonians can be very PROUD of their efforts! Citizens of all ages line-up to help evacuees from the Fort McMurray area as the northern Alberta city of up to 90,000 was completely evacuated as the “BEAST” engulfed whole neighbourhoods with an unstopped wall of flames.

It is still a miracle that no one was killed in the first day of this incredibly crippling, record-breaking wildfire. While hundred of thousands of Edmontonians literally stepped up to volunteer in countless ways, the City of Edmonton sent first responders, equipment as well as other city employees and supplies that could help with the unfolding disaster. These brave people risked their lives without question to help everyone they could in the Fort McMurray region. Emergency response managers had more employees volunteering than they needed to go north when called. This was such a massive event that Canadian military personal were activated to help support first responders, including members from 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron based at Edmonton Garrison.

"I know the pain that the Fort McMurray people feel,"

Quotes from @CBCEdmonton;****_ www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton_

With the countless amount of people taking part in all levels of the Fort McMurray wildfires relief efforts only a small percentage of first responders, city, business employees, government workers and volunteers were ever featured in the media or online. Not widely reported at the time was an incredible offer of help from a small group of brand new Edmontonians that were not just financially strapped but completely displaced themselves. This small group of Syrian refugees showed just how BIG the City of Champions spirit can be. Morhaf Aldiri, in spite of arriving from a dusty refugee camp in Jordan to Edmonton in February 2016, he plus 20 other new Syrian refugees, also living in a northwest Edmonton neighbourhood stepped up to help with a small, but very thoughtful and kind gesture. "When I came it was very difficult," said Aldiri. "Another country, I don't know anything, any people, but lots of people help and help me, so it's very nice." Aldiri and his family know what it is like to run for your life leaving everything behind when their house was hit by a bomb in Daraa, Syria, in 2013. They had been without a home and country-less since that fateful day.Knowing what it is like losing everything in a second, Aldiri, 25, explains through a translator, "I know the pain that the Fort McMurray people feel," he said, "I lost my home as well in Syria, and it really touched me." His family not only knows what it is like to be without a home but also without a country anymore.

The very grateful Aldiri said “we want to return the favour", the group talked about what they could do to support the people affected by the monsters fires in and around Fort McMurray. The small group came up with the very family oriented idea of raising money to pay for a very special homemade traditional Syrian meal for as many evacuees that they could muster resources for. As word spread, more joined the effort, now with the help of around 60 Syrian families, other. Edmontonians and locally canvassed businesses, $3,500 was raised. With the help from the city of Edmonton the best date and venue was picked to hold the event. These Syrian refugees fit right into Edmonton’s championship spirit, if things work out they might one day be sworn as full-fledged Canadian citizens. Edmonton and Canada should be that lucky; for now Aldiri is very grateful for being able to re-build his life in a city and country where he finally feels safe

The Edmonton Journal listed just SOME of the service offered by Edmonton’s citizens, businesses, non-profit and government agencies; www.EdmontonJournal.com

Reception and Rallying Centres

With the help of Canadian and international donations the Edmonton Red Cross was able to help through many agencies in Alberta.

Edmonton’s Expo Centre at Northlands, 7515 118 Ave., was the main rallying point in the Edmonton area, offering access to phones, TV’s, radios, beds (including onsite pet care), food, cloths, personal and general supplies, showers, medical, mental, clerical/religious services, government agencies set-up to offer all services Alberta normally offers for supports to its citizens, plus pre-loaded credit cards, AHS had health care teams onsite plus beefed up Health Link lines, insurance companies set-up their adjusters onsite to offer services, food truck should up to help feed people. Volunteers showed up to offer help and so much more.

Many entertainers volunteered on site and the players from the Edmonton Eskimos football team, the Eskimos Cheer Team and team mascots also visited evacuees housed at the Edmonton Northlands reception centre.

Food and Refreshments

The Edmonton Food Bank helped supply ten’s of thousands of people with food and personal supplies during the 2016 wildfire disaster.

Many in the general public took in evacuees to house and feed them. Others made food and drive it all the way up to Fort McMurray to hand it out to first responders that they would find just driving around. Amazing extra efforts.

Kinnikinnick Fresh at 10940 120 St. is offering gluten-free food and $50 vouchers to Fort McMurray evacuees with celiac disease.

The Pint Public House Edmonton locations at 10125 109 St. and 8032 104 St. offered a free meal for evacuees with Fort McMurray ID for a week.

Fatburger offered fire evacuees a Fatburger with cheese and soda or a free kids meal at their locations at Edmonton City Centre 10205 101 St., 5611 23 Ave., South Edmonton Common 1755 102 St., West Edmonton Mall, Namao 15987-97 St., locations in Fort Saskatchewan & Red Deer

Block 1912 at 10361 82 Ave., offered a free scoop of gelato and a coffee for Fort McMurray evacuees.

O’Byrne’s Irish Pub at 10616 82 Ave., offered a free pint of beer and a meal for Fort McMurray residence

Naan-O-Licious at 10331 82 Ave., offered free biryani for evacuees.

Earls Edmonton locations including 11830 Jasper Ave., 8629 112 St., 4250 Calgary Trail, 13330 50 St., 9961 170 St. and 1505 99 St., offered any evacuees a free sandwich and drink.

Padmanadi Vegetarian Restaurant at 10740 101 St., offered free lunch or dinner to fire evacuees.

On The Rocks 11740 Jasper Ave., offered free meal & drink for evacuees.

Delux Burger Bar at 9682 142 St. and 14111 23 Ave., offered evacuees a free burger and drink.

Sandwich and Sons at 10184 104 St. and 13119 156 St., offered a free sandwich for evacuees.

The Bhartiya Cultural Society of Alberta at 9507 39 Ave. is offered free vegetarian meals to evacuees.

Moxie’s Grill and Bar at 10628 Kingsway Ave., offered a free entree and drink to fire evacuees.

Chianti Cafe & Restaurant at 10501 82 Ave., offered a free half-size salad or soup, any one of their Pasta Creations and a non-alcoholic beverage for evacuees.

Mary Brown’s locations at 11358 104 Ave. and 14969 Stony Plain Rd., offered a free meal evacuees.

Wheat Garden Chinese Noodle and Dumpling Bazaar at 10703 103 St., offered a noodle bowl or rice dish to evacuees.

LOVEPIZZA 10196 109 St., offered free pizza for evacuees the first week.

Gurdwara Millwoods at 2606 Millwoods Rd., offered free vegetarian meals for evacuees 24 hours a day.

Celebrate Gluten Free Bakery & Cafe at 15213 Stony Plain Rd., offered free breakfast or a sandwich for Fort McMurray evacuees.

Quiznos, 5366 Windermere Blvd., offered a free lunch for first 2-weeks.

Remedy Cafe offered evacuees free wraps in all of their Edmonton locations at 10279 Jasper Ave., 8631 109 St. and 10310 124 St.

Fuss Cupcakes at 10441 82 Ave. and 17298 Stony Plain Rd., offered evacuees a cupcake and coffee for the fire evacuees.

Noorish at 8440 109 St., offered free vegan, vegetarian & gluten free meals for wildfire evacuees. They also collected donations of toys

Shelter

Hotels, motels and everyday Edmontonians opened their rooms and homes to countless fire evacuees.

Ronald McDonald House Northern Alberta in Edmonton supported families with children with medical needs.

Inclusion Alberta helped people with developmental disabilities displaced by fires in northern.

Airbnb has activated their Disaster Response Tool, waiving all fees so those with Edmonton residences available to evacuees.

Alberta REALTORS Support for Fort McMurray posted available housing for evacuees on their Facebook page.

The Al Rashid Mosque is opening their doors for evacuees in need a place to stay at 13070 113 St.

The Guru Nanak Sikh Society through their members they were able to offer dozens of spare bedrooms, basement suites and motel rooms available free of charge for Fort McMurray area evacuees.

Showers

All #Yeg YMCA locations open the doors to Wood Buffalo area evacuees so they could access drop-in facilities & showers, at the Don Wheaton YMCA at 10211 102 Ave., Jamie Platz YMA at 7121 178 St., Castle Downs YMCA at 11510 153 Ave. & William Lutzky YMCA at 1975 111 St.

The Fraser Community League at 14720 21 St., community league members opened up rooms and showers in their homes for evacuees, plus the league gave away food, general supplies and first aid item

Education/Childcare

Edmonton’s Public and Catholic schools accommodated Kindergarten through high school students from the Fort McMurray area.

Children’s Autism Services of Edmonton offered respite care and supervised safe play space at the Maier Centre at 17451 103 Ave.

The Educational Daycare Group offered up to 50 daycare spaces free for one month for children evacuee parents in need.

The six Edmonton-area Campus Alberta post secondary institutions – including Concordia University, King’s University, MacEwan University, the University of Alberta (for undergraduate and graduate students), the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and NorQuest College offered evacuee students help completing coursework and help them get official marks and transcripts.

Pets and Animals

The Alberta SPCA coordinated support for livestock, horses and other farm animals brought to the Edmonton Expo Centre.

The Companion Animal Welfare Society provided temporary care for pets including cats, dogs and small animals including reptiles.

The Edmonton Humane Society and Edmonton’s Animal Care and Control Centre coordinated animal care for people arriving in Edmonton.

Champion Pet Foods at 11403 186 St., offered free cat and dog food for Fort McMurray area evacuees.

Cozy Kitty at 4610 97 St. is offered shelter for displaced cats.

E&E Kennels offered free boarding services for dogs, cats and small pets at their #12 Boulder Blvd location in Stony Plain.

Also a list of Edmonton veterinary area practices offering assistance evacuees; www.albertaanimalhealthsource.ca

Stress Relief Services

The Distress Line 780-482-4357 within Edmonton added extra support staff. those outside can reach the Rural Distress Line at 1-800-232-7288.

· Boyle Street Community Services at 10116 105 Ave., The Mustard Seed Society, with locations at 10635 96 St. and 10568 114 St., is offered counseling, clothing and hot meals to fire evacuees.

Medical

Netcare helped people fill prescriptions through Edmonton pharmacies.

Evacuated breastfeeding mothers were offered services.

Mental health support was offered 24-hours-a-day through the Mental Health Help Line at 1-877-303-2642.

Mint Health + Drugs locations offered free emergency medicine for evacuees who left their medication behind.

Urban Vision and Optometrists at 15957 97 St., offered a free pair of prescription glasses to evacuees who either lost or damaged theirs.

The Southwest Family Dental Clinic at 1719 Towne Centre Blvd., offered free emergency dental care for evacuees.

Business supports

The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce offered complimentary office space to businesses displaced by wildfires in the Wood Buffalo region at their World Trade Centre Edmonton building at 9990 Jasper Avenue.

Regus opened up their fully-serviced business lounges to assist business professionals displaced by Alberta wildfires. www.regus.ca

Local business of all kinds also offer, space, vehicle storage, and other supports to their business piers and competition.

Storage

The U-Haul Company of Northern Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories including Edmonton offered 30 days of free self-storage and U-Box container use for people evacuated.

·StorageMart donated a free month of storage in Edmonton for evacuees.

Entertainment

City of Edmonton offered free admission to all city-owned attractions & facilities to evacuees, including , Muttart Conservatory, John Janzen Nature Centre & Edmonton recreation facilities

People displaced by wildfires were offered free admission to any Edmonton and any of the 17 Alberta provincially owned and operated historic sites and museums. www.culture.alberta.ca

Allstars Playland at 9510 12 Ave., offered free admission to wildfire evacuee families the first week.

The Devonian Botanic Garden in Highway 60, five kilometres north of Devon, offered free. www.devonian.ualberta.ca

The University of Alberta offered free access to all of its recreation facilities and libraries – including their computers – for all Alberta wildfire evacuees.

The Telus World of Science at 11211 142 St., offered free admission for evacuee families the first week.

Spa and Salon

Est-elle Academy of Hair Design 8004 Gateway Blvd., offered a shampoo, blow-dry service with a scalp massage for evacuees the first week.

The Beauty Parlour, located on the second floor at 10011 82 Ave., is offered a free shampoo and blowout for evacuees.

Echo Hair Design #205 8135 102 St., offered free hair cleanse & style

Many more locations also offered the same and even more free services.

Miscellaneous and extra supports offered

Fountain Tire at 8550 Yellowhead Tr., offered free repairs to tires damaged during the massive evacuation.

K.C Photography and other local photographers offered free family photo shoots to evacuees.

Edmonton Wedding Gallery & Bridal Plus Boutique at 10404 68 Ave., offered 50% off for those who lost wedding gowns during the wildfire.

Anytime Fitness Old Strathcona at 10469 80 Ave., opened their gyms for evacuees to use while they are in Edmonton.

The Celtic Ceilidh Dance Academy at 6325 Gateway Blvd., offered free Highland and Irish dance classes for evacuees.

Fort City Church from Fort McMurray partnered with Edmonton’s Beulah Alliance Church 17504 98A Ave., to host a special church service.

Yoga Central at #104 5124 122 St., offered free yoga for Fort McMurray evacuees. They also collected donations of yoga clothing for evacuees.

Long-time Edmonton children’s charity, www.SportCentral.org stepped up BIG-TIME to help Fort McMurray kids replace as much lost sports equipment that the “Beast” incinerated when it swept through the neighbourhoods. Over the summer with the added help from 3rd generation United Cycle sporting goods store owner, tireless, humble community worker, Wilf Brooks, they collect donations from citizens, suppliers and manufactures from across the country totaling more than

$500, 000 worth of hockey, baseball, football and other sports equipment. In early September 2016, Sports Central’s single largest donation headed north 435+ kilometres thanks to Rosenau Transport’s donation of a big-rig and driver.

The jam-packed 52-foot semi-trailer was greeted with cheers and smiles from RCMP personal as well as hugs and tears from other community members.

Just a small sampling of the stories and events during May 2016 that featured the never wavering grassroots community spirit that runs extremely deep and into all corners of the community, without a doubt cementing Edmonton as Canada’s undisputed;

“It is amazing what you can accomplish when nobody cares who gets the credit.”

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#editorial #edmonton #cityofchampions #cityofchamps #city council #fortmcmurray #fort mcmurray fire #wildfire #alberta

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