SASKATOON — The Saskatoon Community Foundation has been collaborating with the City of Saskatoon and the Emergency Management Office on an ongoing, multi-agency fundraising effort to support the victims of the tragic wildfires in Northern Saskatchewan.
SCF Donor Services and Grant Coordinator Krys Hertzke said they are coordinating with EMO on how best to support the people who evacuated from Creighton, Denare Beach, and Flin Flon. There is approximately $50,000 in the fund.
She said that there are still an estimated 250 evacuees from the communities in Flin Flon, Creighton and Denare Beach who are staying in hotels in Saskatoon, and they are booked until July 13 as they await their chance to return to their devastated homes.
“The Denare Beach community has lost more than 85 per cent of their structures, and the leadership is working towards longer-term planning needs. We are waiting to learn more about their plans for their community and whether Prince Albert, Saskatoon or La Ronge will be their temporary ‘home base,’” Hertzke told Â鶹´«Ã½AV.
She added that the urgency of raising the funds was urgent, as people were fleeing their communities while various fire crews and other volunteers worked tirelessly to battle the wildfires. Saskatoon had over 8,000 evacuees at the height of the wildfire evacuation.
“Many of these people had packed a few precious belongings and left their homes, uncertain if they would ever see them again. While funds were available for basic food and shelter in the city, there was nothing specifically available for the overall health and well-being of the people evacuated,” said Hertzke.
“In response, we opened an Emergency Response Fund to provide key funds to the organizations on the front lines in Saskatoon. This was done in coordination with EMO, City of Saskatoon, and the United Way of Saskatoon. The heart of a community shows when it is faced with a crisis, and the Saskatoon community stepped up.”
Over $70,000 was immediately raised for the ERF, as the community banded together to help those in need. The corporate donations came from Affinity Credit Union, Prairie Wild Consulting, Sandbox Mutual, Jeff’s Crestwear, North Prairie Developments, Fondation du Grand Montrèal and ATB Wealth.
Around $44,000 from the fund was allocated for various activities, including fun pastimes for kids, tickets to the Saskatchewan Rattlers and Saskatoon Berries games, drop-in fitness classes, cultural meals, and general mental health support.
“There are still around 400 evacuees in Saskatoon with complex situations not allowing them to go home. The remaining funds are being used to support them and as a stand-by should more evacuations be needed,” Hertzke said.
EMO-Saskatoon Fire Department Director Pamela Goulden-McLeod added that Saskatoon had not hosted forest fire evacuees one time in the last 15 years, and the available funding from SCF’s ERF allowed them to provide free events and activities.
“This funding allowed the hosting of events like soup, bannock and bingo - that brought the evacuated community together in a familiar and reassuring comforting environment. In addition, these events offered cultural, emotional and connecting support,” said Goulden-McLeod.
