Several local, provincial and national agencies have announced initiatives to support Jasper evacuees
As of Monday morning, 1,388 evacuees have registered in Calgary at the city’s reception centre at Shouldice Arena, at 1515 Home Road N.W.
The reception centre hours are 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. as of Monday. However, supports will continue to be available for evacuees arriving outside of those hours.
Parachutes for Pets
Parachutes for Pets is a Calgary non-profit committed to assisting low-income individuals work toward better health and welfare for their pets through accessible programs and resources.
When the emergency evacuation alert went out, the organization worked quickly to bring pet hampers to Calgary’s evacuation centre as well as hotels that were housing evacuees with pets.
The non-profit continues to support evacuees by providing pet essentials, as well as safe accommodation for animals.
Canadian Red Cross
The Canadian Red Cross has launched the 2024 Alberta Fires Appeal, which means donated funds will be designated for the purpose for which they were given. In this case, funds will be used to help people in Jasper and other affected areas in Alberta.
The federal and provincial governments will match every dollar donated by Canadians to the Red Cross effort.
Funds will be used to support immediate and ongoing relief, including financial assistance, support to evacuees and the communities hosting them, recovery and resilience efforts in response to the wildfires, as well as supporting community preparedness and risk reduction for future all-hazard disaster events within Alberta.
Calgary Dashmesh Culture Centre
The culture centre has announced that it will provide food and emergency hampers to evacuees, and also has a team of volunteers preparing to visit small towns close to Jasper to provide food and supplies there.
Calgary Humane Society
Veterans Food Bank of Alberta
The Veterans Food Bank of Alberta provides supports for veterans and first responders. It works to restore dignity to those in need, and provides a unique “shop for yourself” food support model, allowing users to receive what they need, and enough to last several days to weeks.
Canadian Bankers Association
Several banks are facilitating financial donations at branches for the Canadian Red Cross, as well as making corporate donations directly to the Red Cross and other relief organizations.
BMO, Canadian Western Bank, National Bank, RBC, Scotiabank, Tangerine Bank and TD Bank Group are making corporate donations totalling $355,000 to the Canadian Red Cross’ 2024 Alberta Wildfires Appeal and the Canadian Disaster Relief Fund.
Canadian Western Bank, RBC, Scotiabank and TD Bank Group will also make donations to organizations supporting relief and recovery efforts in Alberta, including the Jasper Community Team Society, the Wood Buffalo Community Foundation and the United Way of the Alberta Capital Region Wildfire Response and Recovery Fund. CIBC will make a donation to the CIBC Foundation Alberta Emergency Relief Fund.
Starting Monday, Canadians can make a donation at any branch of BMO, Canadian Western Bank, RBC, Scotiabank and TD Bank Group. Several banks will also have donations available online. Donations made to these banks will be directed to the Canadian Red Cross.
Calgary Food Bank
Over the weekend, Skip the Dishes, Earthwares and Alberta bottle depots teamed up for the Calgary Community Cares campaign. The citywide bottle drive encouraged Calgarians to donate the cash from recyclables to be directed to the Calgary Food Bank.