By Jon Adam Chen
A four decades-long military career taught Bernard St-Laurent the importance of service to others. Since retiring from the military eleven years ago, Bernard has shifted his focus to volunteering with the Canadian Red Cross. Bernard says he has witnessed firsthand the power of the Red Cross, at home and abroad, to help people and communities in times of need.
As a Personal Disaster Assistance (PDA) Team Lead in Ottawa, Bernard draws from the immersion in complex operational environments he gained during his years in the military. When personal disasters such as fires strike, Red Cross teams like Bernard’s are among the first to respond, helping to provide food, shelter, clothing, and essential supplies to those affected for up to 72 hours.
As PDA Team Lead, Bernard is responsible for coordinating these supports as a complement to the work of fire services, police, and municipal programs.
Bernard says the role of the Red Cross in this crucial period is always to focus on the needs of people affected. “We see people distraught by the current situation, who feel they have no means to recover. But when we get there, we are the shining star,” Bernard says.
Bernard and his team have a direct line of contact with fire services and are notified by them as soon as a situation arises. They are responsible for connecting directly with those shaken by an event. In the past, this meant deploying to the scene of the incident and comforting people face-to-face. Nowadays, this initial contact is done over the phone, which demands active listening and a reassuring presence. Bernard and his team ensure individuals have a roof over their heads for the night and quickly shift gears to complete a needs-assessment form for each person impacted.
“It is a very complex yet efficient way to deal with human suffering and to make sure that people feel they are taken care of,” Bernard says.
In the last week, Bernard has helped to respond to four fires, all between the hours of midnight and 4:30 a.m., including one that impacted a family of five. Bernard says the demands are heavy, but the ability to play a part in alleviating the suffering of others always makes it worthwhile.
In addition to his involvement with personal disasters, Bernard has assumed leadership roles in several emergency response operations during spring floods and summer forest fires. He has also deployed with the Red Cross to a border crossing in Quebec supporting asylum seekers, and contributed to Disaster Response Capability Evaluations in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Recently, he has offered his time conducting outreach activities ahead of COVID-19 vaccinations in Ottawa.
“As a volunteer with the Red Cross, I must say that I feel very committed to my community. More so these days - with the COVID pandemic we have many outreach activities that require us to check up on people in need, including those that have limited contacts with their social environments.”
In each capacity, he says he has witnessed the immediate credibility that the Red Cross brings to humanitarian work. “We have many new Canadians that say, ‘We saw the Red Cross in our countries, but we never thought that the Red Cross would be helping us here in Canada.’ That drives the impact the Red Cross has.”
Bernard says he never passes up an opportunity to put on his Red Cross vest and baseball cap. “I want to be seen providing the services of the Red Cross, with the application of all the fundamentals that we abide by. We touch a lot of people, from various walks of life!”
There are many volunteer opportunities available - For more information visit www.redcross.ca/volunteer
Related Stories:
“Follow my voice” - Chantale Bilodeau’s story
Canadian Red Cross Friendly Phone program helps isolated senior ease pain of loss
From the Lebanese Red Cross to the Canadian Red Cross: one volunteer’s unusual life path
A four decades-long military career taught Bernard St-Laurent the importance of service to others. Since retiring from the military eleven years ago, Bernard has shifted his focus to volunteering with the Canadian Red Cross. Bernard says he has witnessed firsthand the power of the Red Cross, at home and abroad, to help people and communities in times of need.
As a Personal Disaster Assistance (PDA) Team Lead in Ottawa, Bernard draws from the immersion in complex operational environments he gained during his years in the military. When personal disasters such as fires strike, Red Cross teams like Bernard’s are among the first to respond, helping to provide food, shelter, clothing, and essential supplies to those affected for up to 72 hours.
As PDA Team Lead, Bernard is responsible for coordinating these supports as a complement to the work of fire services, police, and municipal programs.
Bernard says the role of the Red Cross in this crucial period is always to focus on the needs of people affected. “We see people distraught by the current situation, who feel they have no means to recover. But when we get there, we are the shining star,” Bernard says.
Bernard and his team have a direct line of contact with fire services and are notified by them as soon as a situation arises. They are responsible for connecting directly with those shaken by an event. In the past, this meant deploying to the scene of the incident and comforting people face-to-face. Nowadays, this initial contact is done over the phone, which demands active listening and a reassuring presence. Bernard and his team ensure individuals have a roof over their heads for the night and quickly shift gears to complete a needs-assessment form for each person impacted.
“It is a very complex yet efficient way to deal with human suffering and to make sure that people feel they are taken care of,” Bernard says.
In the last week, Bernard has helped to respond to four fires, all between the hours of midnight and 4:30 a.m., including one that impacted a family of five. Bernard says the demands are heavy, but the ability to play a part in alleviating the suffering of others always makes it worthwhile.
In addition to his involvement with personal disasters, Bernard has assumed leadership roles in several emergency response operations during spring floods and summer forest fires. He has also deployed with the Red Cross to a border crossing in Quebec supporting asylum seekers, and contributed to Disaster Response Capability Evaluations in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Recently, he has offered his time conducting outreach activities ahead of COVID-19 vaccinations in Ottawa.
“As a volunteer with the Red Cross, I must say that I feel very committed to my community. More so these days - with the COVID pandemic we have many outreach activities that require us to check up on people in need, including those that have limited contacts with their social environments.”
In each capacity, he says he has witnessed the immediate credibility that the Red Cross brings to humanitarian work. “We have many new Canadians that say, ‘We saw the Red Cross in our countries, but we never thought that the Red Cross would be helping us here in Canada.’ That drives the impact the Red Cross has.”
Bernard says he never passes up an opportunity to put on his Red Cross vest and baseball cap. “I want to be seen providing the services of the Red Cross, with the application of all the fundamentals that we abide by. We touch a lot of people, from various walks of life!”
There are many volunteer opportunities available - For more information visit www.redcross.ca/volunteer
Related Stories:
“Follow my voice” - Chantale Bilodeau’s story
Canadian Red Cross Friendly Phone program helps isolated senior ease pain of loss
From the Lebanese Red Cross to the Canadian Red Cross: one volunteer’s unusual life path
