Written by Angela Hill, Communication Delegate, Canadian Red Cross
Photos by Angela Hill and John Falcon
Since July 22, 2024, the Canadian Red Cross has provided and continues to provide critical services and support to those impacted by the 2024 Alberta wildfires.
On August 16, 2024, the evacuation order was lifted and residents of Jasper and surrounding areas were permitted to begin re-entry.
To support residents throughout the re-entry process, the Canadian Red Cross opened a Re-Entry Support Centre in Jasper, in partnership with the Municipality of Jasper. It was intended to provide all the services residents would need upon return from evacuation in one place. It accomplished that, but what the partnership between the Municipality of Jasper and Canadian Red Cross wasn’t expecting, was it would also become a hub for the community.
People would stop by to pick up a Red Cross cleaning kit, talk to their insurance company, or find out how to reconnect their utilities, then stay to talk and connect with friends, neighbours, and members of the community.
Harry and Sylvia Harkema returned to Jasper on August 16. The couple arrived to find their home was affected pretty badly from the wildfire smoke.
“But for the rest, everything seems to be okay...we're thankful for that," Harry said. "We talked to some of the people here that lost everything, and it's still hard talking about it."
They were just glad to be back home and see the community return after three weeks of uncertainty.
The pair received support from the Canadian Red Cross, first at the reception centre in Edmonton, where they registered for financial assistance, then again in Jasper, where they picked up a cleaning kit and blankets from the Re-Entry Support Centre.
"The support we got there, not only mentally, but financially from the Red Cross, was absolutely stunning.”
Tiffany Toussant and Craig McCarthy also received support from the Canadian Red Cross when they evacuated their community.
“You were one step ahead of us to welcome us where we needed to be on our next step of our journey,” Tiffany said.
As of September 20, 2024, the Canadian Red Cross has provided more than 3,000 clean-up kits, 2,000 teddy bears, and 3,000 blankets across several support sites in Alberta.
“I live in Fort McMurray, so I was one of the evacuees from the 2016 wildfire and I realized how critical the Red Cross was,” Todd Hillier said. Todd is now a Canadian Red Cross Safety and Wellbeing Responder volunteer. “They helped out me and my family and all my friends and I just wanted to give back.”
Todd greeted people as they arrived at the Re-Entry Support Centre, finally returning to Jasper for the first time since being evacuated.
“Being from northern Alberta, Jasper has always been a spot for me and my family to go to,” he said. “Living through it in 2016 in Fort McMurray, I know of knew exactly what help I could provide.”
Recently, the Canadian Red Cross launched a program to support small business and not-for-profits that were impacted by the 2024 Alberta wildfires.
Thanks to the generosity of donors as well as matching funds from the Government of Alberta, financial assistance is available for eligible small businesses and not-for-profit organizations impacted by the 2024 Alberta Wildfires.
If your business or not-for-profit organization has been impacted by the 2024 Alberta wildfires, visit our Support to Small Businesses and Not-for-Profits Program page for more information on eligibility and application process.
Personalized recovery support to people impacted by the wildfires is also being offered. This support is available to those who are homeowners or tenants.
Canadian Red Cross teams are working directly with people impacted to discuss their unique needs and help them navigate their recovery.
This support includes planning for their return home, providing referrals to access mental health services, and assists people in making decisions and informing their next steps. Financial assistance may also be available to support residents of Jasper with early recovery needs.
To learn more about this support and eligibility requirements, visit our Personalized Recovery Support page.
Photos by Angela Hill and John Falcon
Since July 22, 2024, the Canadian Red Cross has provided and continues to provide critical services and support to those impacted by the 2024 Alberta wildfires.
On August 16, 2024, the evacuation order was lifted and residents of Jasper and surrounding areas were permitted to begin re-entry.
To support residents throughout the re-entry process, the Canadian Red Cross opened a Re-Entry Support Centre in Jasper, in partnership with the Municipality of Jasper. It was intended to provide all the services residents would need upon return from evacuation in one place. It accomplished that, but what the partnership between the Municipality of Jasper and Canadian Red Cross wasn’t expecting, was it would also become a hub for the community.
Community Connections: How Jasper Residents Received Support at the Re-Entry Centre
People would stop by to pick up a Red Cross cleaning kit, talk to their insurance company, or find out how to reconnect their utilities, then stay to talk and connect with friends, neighbours, and members of the community. Harry and Sylvia Harkema returned to Jasper on August 16. The couple arrived to find their home was affected pretty badly from the wildfire smoke.“But for the rest, everything seems to be okay...we're thankful for that," Harry said. "We talked to some of the people here that lost everything, and it's still hard talking about it."
They were just glad to be back home and see the community return after three weeks of uncertainty.
The pair received support from the Canadian Red Cross, first at the reception centre in Edmonton, where they registered for financial assistance, then again in Jasper, where they picked up a cleaning kit and blankets from the Re-Entry Support Centre.
"The support we got there, not only mentally, but financially from the Red Cross, was absolutely stunning.” Tiffany Toussant and Craig McCarthy also received support from the Canadian Red Cross when they evacuated their community.
“You were one step ahead of us to welcome us where we needed to be on our next step of our journey,” Tiffany said.
As of September 20, 2024, the Canadian Red Cross has provided more than 3,000 clean-up kits, 2,000 teddy bears, and 3,000 blankets across several support sites in Alberta.
Red Cross Volunteers Support Jasper Residents
Over and over, families talked about being okay but wanting to make sure they could support friends and neighbours as they decided on their next steps. The community does an incredible job of looking out for each other.“I live in Fort McMurray, so I was one of the evacuees from the 2016 wildfire and I realized how critical the Red Cross was,” Todd Hillier said. Todd is now a Canadian Red Cross Safety and Wellbeing Responder volunteer. “They helped out me and my family and all my friends and I just wanted to give back.” Todd greeted people as they arrived at the Re-Entry Support Centre, finally returning to Jasper for the first time since being evacuated.
“Being from northern Alberta, Jasper has always been a spot for me and my family to go to,” he said. “Living through it in 2016 in Fort McMurray, I know of knew exactly what help I could provide.”
Support to Small Businesses and Not-for-Profits in Jasper and Surrounding Areas
Recently, the Canadian Red Cross launched a program to support small business and not-for-profits that were impacted by the 2024 Alberta wildfires. Thanks to the generosity of donors as well as matching funds from the Government of Alberta, financial assistance is available for eligible small businesses and not-for-profit organizations impacted by the 2024 Alberta Wildfires.
If your business or not-for-profit organization has been impacted by the 2024 Alberta wildfires, visit our Support to Small Businesses and Not-for-Profits Program page for more information on eligibility and application process.
Personalized Recovery Support
Personalized recovery support to people impacted by the wildfires is also being offered. This support is available to those who are homeowners or tenants. Canadian Red Cross teams are working directly with people impacted to discuss their unique needs and help them navigate their recovery.
This support includes planning for their return home, providing referrals to access mental health services, and assists people in making decisions and informing their next steps. Financial assistance may also be available to support residents of Jasper with early recovery needs.
To learn more about this support and eligibility requirements, visit our Personalized Recovery Support page.
