Alberta Wildfires 2016 Current Partners

The Red Cross knows that community groups play a critical role in providing services to assist people and the entire community recover from disaster. That’s why we work alongside community groups to strengthen local initiatives and services, and ensure our efforts are not duplicated.

Support to community groups ensures the needs of the community are reflected in relief and recovery activities. All current partnerships (and the services provided) have been identified as needs by the community of Fort McMurray and other areas that have or continue to provide support to the people affected by the disaster.

Below is a list of our community partners to date:

Fuse Social – provided financial assistance for volunteer management services in Fort McMurray
Save the Children Canada – provided financial assistance for the creation and management of child and youth-friendly spaces in Edmonton for those evacuated from the Wood Buffalo region
Alberta Foodbanks Network Association – provided financial assistance for emergency relief to those affected by the wildfires through the provision of food to several food banks across Alberta where evacuees were located
Goldeye Foundation Centre – provided financial assistance for emergency feeding and sheltering to evacuees
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo – provided financial assistance for a re-entry BBQ for individuals and families returning home from June 1 to 8, 2016
Mikisew Cree First Nation – provided financial assistance for a graduation ceremony for students who finished their year in Edmonton as well as a round dance as part of the celebration of returning to home
Willow Lake Tiny Tots Society – provided financial assistance for a welcome back BBQ for daycare students and families
Salvation Army of Fort McMurray – provided financial assistance to a local homeless shelter
Regional Recreation Corporation of Wood Buffalo – provided financial assistance to enable hosting the Baseball Canada Cup 2016 in Fort McMurray
YMCA of Northern Alberta (in Fort McMurray) – provided financial assistance for summer camps, access to facilities through free memberships to youth & children, family support programs to help those affected by the fire
CMHA - Alberta North East Region – provided financial assistance to host several community-led and community-based events centred on overall mental wellness and coping strategies
Norwood Child & Family Services and partners – provided financial assistance for emergency relief and care for evacuated children and families while in Edmonton
Edmonton Emergency Relief Services Society - provided financial assistance for emergency food and other relief supplies to evacuees
Nistawoyou Association Friendship Centre – provided financial assistance for National Aboriginal Day celebration in Fort McMurray
MS Society of Canada – provided financial assistance for an accessible community BBQ
Métis Urban Housing Corporation – provided financial assistance to support emergency accommodation for evacuees
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northern Alberta – provided financial assistance to support emergency accommodation for evacuees with children with special needs
Golden Years Society - provided financial assistance for a weekly seniors drop-in program to share common experiences as a result of the wildfires
Fort McMurray First Nation 468 – provided financial assistance to the Healing Gathering for the Land and Water
SOS for Crisis Prevention - provided financial assistance to rebuild their volunteer team that runs the 24/7 Crisis Line
Northern Alberta Athletics Association – provided financial assistance for a First Responders Appreciation Weekend, in conjunction with the Oil Barons opening weekend
United Nations Association in Canada- provided financial assistance for the UN’s Sport-in-a-Box program in Fort McMurray
McMurray Métis MNA Local 1935 – provided financial assistance for the annual Métis Festival in Fort McMurray
Fort McMurray Tourism – provided financial assistance for an annual BBQ at the Oil Sands Discovery Centre
SOS for Crisis Prevention - Provided financial assistance to support their children’s summer camp with extended hours and timeframe
McMurray Métis MNA Local 1935 – provided financial assistance for their Summer Student program
Alberta Teacher's Association - Local 48 - provided teachers with financial assistance at the start of the school year to begin rebuilding their stock of school supplies lost in the fires
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo - provided financial assistance through the purchase of food items distributed to local residents
Rehoboth Alliance - provided financial support for a one-day community celebration offering food, children's activities and guest speakers for fire-impacted members of the community
Layla Isaac Foundation - provided financial support for free, inclusive play activities for children to engage with peers outside of school hours in a safe space
Big Brothers Big Sisters Wood Buffalo – provided financial assistance to support the annual Duck Race and re-entry community event
Borealis Counselling - provided financial assistance for a facilitated group process to mitigate stressors and increase coping by facilitating social cohesion and reducing isolation
Fort McMurray Minor Hockey Association (Frank Lacroix arena) – provided financial assistance to support a re-entry luncheon at the arena for residents of the Beacon Hill neighbourhood
BrainSTEM Alliance - provided financial assistance to support youth in Fort McMurray to collaborate and build resiliency through science, technology, engineering and math programming
Fort City Church – provided financial assistance to support a summer camp for approximately 120 children and youth with extended hours to provide flexibility as families get ready to go back to school
Wood Buffalo Food Bank Association - provided financial assistance to support the Emergency Relief Hamper program
St. Aidan's Society - provided financial assistance to support an opportunity for social connectedness through multiple partner agencies and education/awareness sessions for organizations
Stephen's Backpacks - provided financial assistance for the provision of backpacks and back to school supplies for students in Wood Buffalo returning to school
Association canadienne-française de l’Alberta - provided financial assistance for psychosocial support and mental health in French
Fort McMurray Catholic School District - provided financial assistance for the provision of holiday hampers for families and affected community members in need
United Way of Calgary and Area - provided financial assistance to invest resources in programs and community building activities through targeted investment decisions in and around Calgary
United Way of the Alberta Capital Region - provided financial assistance to invest resources in programs and community building activities through targeted investment decisions in and around the Alberta Capital Region
Association canadienne-française de l’Alberta - Provided financial assistance to determine and respond to the ongoing medical and mental health needs of the Francophone community in Fort McMurray, as well as to support additional psychosocial and mental health programming in French
Legacy Counselling Centre – provided financial assistance to fund an additional counsellor to support increased need for counselling services and workshops in Fort McMurray
Fort City Church - provided financial assistance to provide families with bus tours around the city to view holiday lights, accompanied by holiday music, food and beverages
Educare - provided financial assistance to ensure continued access to programming for children, through the replacement of materials not covered by insurance, and costs for cleaning up as required by Alberta Health Services
Family Christian Centre - provided financial assistance for a Christmas event to bring families and community together through music, entertainment and food from a variety of cultural backgrounds
Fort McMurray Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals - provided financial assistance for emergency relief services and materials provided to evacuees during evacuation and re-entry to the community
Keyano College - provided financial assistance towards the annual Arts & Humanities Conference with the theme "Coming Through Fire: Rebuilding, Reconciling, Rethinking"
Girls Inc. - provided financial assistance to deliver the Staying Strong Program, to increase resilience and coping skills of girls ages of 8-14 in Fort McMurray
Vista Ridge WildPlay Wood Buffalo - provided financial assistance to ensure access to affordable family friendly recreational activities, by supporting costs related to opening facilities throughout the late summer
Psychologists Association of Alberta - provided financial assistance to support increased demand for psychological services for those impacted by the Wildfires across Alberta
Youth With A Mission – provided financial assistance for free weekly community gathering space where low-income families in Fort McMurray can access meals, homework help, child and youth programming and resource referrals.
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo – provided financial assistance for a range of recovery activities including: support for annual resiliency activities and public artwork; support for residents in the most impacted neighbourhoods including playground restoration; support for risk reduction through the FireSmart program; recovery programming for youth in the RMWB; psychosocial workshops and education.
Squadron Sponsoring Committee of the 868 RCACS – Provided financial assistance to support skills development programming for youth including preparedness for emergency situations.
Canadian Vision Care – Provided financial assistance for coordination of increased access to emergency eye care services and eyeglass supplies to evacuees.
Wood Buffalo Food Bank Association – Provided financial assistance for a social profit appreciation event to recognize contributions to community recovery efforts.
CAREERS: The Next Generation Foundation - Provided financial assistance to support community recovery by expanding career exploration programming to include industries with increased workforce demands as a result of the 2016 wildfires.
St. Aidan’s Society – Provided financial assistance to support children of fire-affected families to access summer camps in Wood Buffalo.
King’s Kids Promotions Outreach Ministries Inc – Provided financial assistance to support recovery from wildfires through radio programs targeted at youth, seniors and newcomers.
Centre d’accueil et d’établissement du Nord de l’Alberta - Provided financial assistance to support a French summer camp for children and youth.
KidSport Canada (Wood Buffalo office) – Provided financial assistance to support children and youth to access organised sports and recreation in Wood Buffalo.
Borealis Counselling (Fort McMurray Assessment and Referral Centre) – Provided financial assistance for additional counselling staff and to provide free Wellness Workshops for the community.
Canadian Mental Health Association, Alberta North East Region – Provided financial assistance to support increased capacity for the Pets and Wellness (PAWs for People) program.
Clearwater Horse Club – Provided financial assistance for the rebuilding horse barns damaged in the fires, allowing horses to return to the community.
Aboriginal Congress of Alberta Association – Provided financial assistance for a recovery celebration in Fort McMurray
Nigerian Canadian Association of Fort McMurray – Provided financial assistance for an event focused on personal and community recovery and wellbeing
Borealis Counselling (Fort McMurray Assessment and Referral Centre) – Provided financial assistance for an art therapy event to promote personal wellbeing on the anniversary of the fires
Nistawoyou Association Friendship Centre – Provided financial assistance for a Traditional Feast and Round Dance celebration to support community recovery
Wood Buffalo Woman and Baby Care Association – Provided financial assistance to support community consultation, education and preparedness for infant and young child feeding in emergencies.
Alberta Somali Community Centre – Provided retroactive financial support for the provision of support services to evacuees from Fort McMurray while in Edmonton
Athabasca Tribal Council – Provided financial assistance for a staff healing retreat focused on traditional approaches to recovery
Athabasca Good Samaritan Ministries Association - Provided financial assistance for additional storage for the food bank.
Centre of Hope Non-Profit Society of Fort McMurray – Provided financial assistance for the Connect Access Refer Engage initiative (CARE Wood Buffalo), to reduce barriers to support services in Wood Buffalo
Fort McMurray Public School District No. 2833– Provided financial assistance for the coordination of mental health supports for students and staff across four school districts
Fort McMurray First Nation 468 – Provided retroactive financial assistance to support outreach and food distribution during early recovery
Canadian Mental Health Association, Alberta Division – Provided financial assistance to support a Family Peer Support Network for parents and caregivers of children and youth experiencing mental health concerns
Keepers of the Athabasca Watershed – Provided financial assistance for the 2017 Healing Gathering for the Land and Water to support community recovery
Anzac Recreation and Social Society – Provided financial assistance for the Restore, Regrowth, Resilience community tree planting event
Big Brothers Big Sisters Wood Buffalo – Provided financial assistance for a mentoring program supporting Indigenous students in four school districts
Waypoints Community Services Association – Provided financial assistance for outreach and trauma counselling in rural areas of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
King’s Kids Promotions Outreach Ministries Incorporated – Provided financial assistance for music and arts programming that engages youth to build their resiliency and share their creativity
Nistawoyou Association Friendship Centre – provided financial assistance for the National Indigenous Day celebration 2017
Fort McMurray Métis Local Council 1935 – Provided financial assistance for a Disaster Recovery Strategist position, to ensure recovery needs of Métis communities are met in recovery and reflected in planning for future disasters
Fort McMurray Métis Local Council 1935 - Provided financial assistance for a landscape and building development plan for building back better from the fires
Métis Nation of Alberta Local Council 780, Willow Lake – Provided retroactive financial support for assistance provided to community members during the evacuation period
Northern Lights Regional Health Foundation – provided financial assistance to support the implementation of HeartMath stress management programming for children and youth
Northern Lights Regional Health Foundation – provided financial assistance to support the psychosocial and mental wellbeing of preschool-aged children through toolkits and age-appropriate learning materials
McMurray Métis Local Council 1935 – Provided retroactive financial assistance to enable the organization to continue to support community recovery, after the buildings were lost in the wildfires
Salvation Army – provided financial assistance for support to vulnerable families and communities individuals over the 2017 holiday season
YMCA of Northern Alberta (in Fort McMurray) – provided financial assistance for family support programs to support ongoing recovery
Boreal Artist Institute – Provided financial assistance to promote recovery and resilience in children and youth through traditional Indigenous knowledge and arts creation
Canadian Mental Health Association North East Region (CMHA 1994) – Provided financial support for community engagement and capacity building to support those at risk of suicide
Athabasca Tribal Council – Provided financial assistance to increase access to culturally appropriate psychosocial supports for members of the 4 First Nations represented by Athabasca Tribal Council
Fort McMurray Catholic School District – Provided financial assistance for the provision of holiday hampers for families and affected community members in need
St. Aidan’s Society – Provided financial assistance to support children of fire-affected families to access summer camps in the summer of 2018
Janvier Sekweha Youth Centre – provided financial assistance to support the capacity and resilience of the Janvier Sekweha Youth Centre
Northern Lights Regional Health Foundation – provided financial assistance to ensure up-to-date post-natal care units at the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre, after equipment was damaged due to the fires
Choices Association of Fort McMurray – provided financial assistance for employment counselling services for individuals aged 50 and over, to increase skill development and access to employment opportunities
Samaritan’s Purse Canada – Provided financial assistance for specialized case management support for those whose homes were damaged or destroyed by the wildfires
Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta – Provided financial assistance for the Project Bold, Girls Against Bullying Alliance project to support resilience building of girls in the region
Centre d’accueil et d’établissement du Nord de l’Alberta – provided financial support to a French-language summer camp program in summer 2018 for children and youth impacted by the wildfires
Arts Council Wood Buffalo – provided financial assistance to contribute to the recovery and resilience of the region by strengthening the arts community
St. Aidan’s House Society – provided financial assistance to support the recovery and resilience of senior residents in the region by promoting aging awareness and sensitivity among businesses and service providers
Fort McMurray Catholic Board of Education – provided financial assistance to increase social inclusion for children with disabilities post-fires, by providing access to adapted bicycles and equipment
Fort McMurray Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – Provided financial assistance for a range of activities supporting family and community recovery needs related to household pets
Centre d’accueil et d’établissement du Nord de l’Alberta – provided financial assistance to ensure availability of French-language mental health services in the region
Fort McMurray Golden Years Society – provided financial assistance to support the recovery of seniors through a weekly drop-in fitness class
McMurray Gospel Assembly – provided financial assistance for drop-in emotional support services available in Fort McMurray
Multicultural Association of Wood Buffalo – provided financial assistance for Indigenous People’s Day events in 2018
Keyano College – provided financial assistance for the development of campus-wide mental health and wellness programming
Athabasca Delta Community School – provided financial assistance for activities to support students and foster connections between the school, community and the land
Wood Buffalo Regional Library Board – provided financial assistance for arts-based community activities focused on healing
Keepers of the Athabasca Watershed – provided financial assistance for a healing gathering for the land and water in 2018
Habitat for Humanity Wood Buffalo – provided financial assistance to build volunteer capacity
FuseSocial – provided financial assistance to inform community-led recovery by undertaking the Community Index of Wellbeing survey
United Way Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo – provided financial assistance to UWFMWB to continue to support partner agencies in their delivery of community-based services, contributing to ongoing community recovery.
Fort McMurray Métis Local Council 1935 – provided financial assistance in support of a youth mentorship program focused on clean up of fire damaged trees
Wood Buffalo Wellness Society – provided financial assistance to the Mark Amy Treatment Centre to offer culturally appropriate addictions treatment support
Fort McMurray Boys & Girls Club – provided financial assistance to support youth resilience-building through inclusive programs
FuseSocial – provided financial assistance to support the promotion and coordination of volunteerism in the RMWB
Legacy Counselling - provided financial assistance for an additional counsellor to support ongoing increased need for counselling services and workshops in Fort McMurray
YMCA of Northern Alberta (in Fort McMurray) – provided financial assistance for family support programs to support ongoing recovery
Fort McMurray Catholic School District – provided financial assistance for the provision of holiday hampers for families and affected community members in need in 2018
Pastew Place Detox Centre - provided financial assistance for capacity to respond to ongoing needs for addictions recovery programming post wildfire
Wood Buffalo Food Bank Association - provided financial assistance to contribute to continuing needs in the community for food assistance post wildfire
Willow Lake Community Association – provided financial assistance to support vulnerable older adults with specialised emergency preparedness training and kits