Friends of Wyndham

Times Reporter 

 

The true western spirit has shone through in the past few weeks as strangers have lent their time to help clean up areas affected by the floods. That spirit has held fast and true in the Carseland area after Wyndham was severely affected. 

A call for help went out for the Parkside Store on June 25 after they realized the damage was just too much to fix on their own. Global Training Centre was just one of the groups who went out to answer that call, and they haven’t stopped lending a hand since. 

“Global Training Centre started the ‘Friends of Wyndham’ because we saw firsthand the need for assistance in Wyndham and how these families had been overlooked in the flood relief efforts,” said Angela Beemer Editing Department Supervisor with Global Training. 

“This area was hit very hard. There was damage to all the properties in the valley, the campgrounds and businesses including the Parkside Store on the campground and the Blue Sky Gardens greenhouse. Water was above our heads in this area and when it receded it left a lot of mud and devastation behind.”

One of the Global Training staff members, Jaymee Farthing, whose parents own the Parkside Store, asked her colleagues for help. 

“While down there we noticed all the other poor folks working alone to try and clean up their property,” said Beemer. 

“The devastation was heart breaking.”

Beemer said Global Training’s Chief Executive Officer Debbie Shelley is an extremely passionate and caring woman. Upon seeing the devastation she committed the training centre’s time and resources to help the families. There have been 40 employees who have been spending their time over the past few weeks in Wyndham helping where they can. 

They have gone from property to property digging out mud, using equipment to clean the land, hauling garbage, tearing out drywall and insulation, power washing and much more.

“We have been very appreciative of the help we have also received from fellow citizens in the area coming down and asking what they can do to help. We have also had help from Rocking Horse Energy Services and the Strathmore Fire Department,” said Beemer. 

There has been a Facebook page, ‘Friends of Wyndham’ created to help spread awareness about the cleanup efforts, while also looking for more volunteers. 

“We are still looking for some volunteers to help clean up Penny Reiterer’s house and Parkside Campground. Once we are done there we will be on to Phase Two,” said Beemer.

“This is where we will be sending out a cry to the community asking for tradesmen to volunteer and help rebuild these families lives. We are in need of contractors, electricians, plumbers, HVAC/Furnace, well servicing, drywallers, painters et cetera. 

“We are hoping that we will have enough volunteers in the trades to spread the work out and get this done quickly. These people cannot live in their homes or run their businesses until their homes and properties have been rebuilt.”

Beemer said that Global Training Centre will continue to coordinate the efforts. They are also accepting monetary donations which will be given out to the families equally. 

“We want to send out a big thank you to our amazing community for stepping up and helping out these families. We have been able to get so much accomplished because of so many giving people,” said Beemer. 

Anyone wishing to help out in any way can call Global Training Centre at 403-934-5046 or visit their website www.globaltrainingcentre.com.