Strathmore council shows support for Fort Mac

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

Strathmore town council proclaimed their support for the relief efforts and the evacuees of Fort McMurray, where an unforgiving inferno has claimed the homes of several thousand people and caused the evacuation of approximately 80,000 residents while continuing to spread to neighbouring communities.
Although various Alberta communities, including Strathmore, have held fundraisers, collected donations, and even travelled north, the devastating situation prompted council to direct administration to bring back terms of reference for a task force, on May 4, and emphasize the continued need for monetary donations to the Red Cross.
“The current situation that’s transpiring up in Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo is somewhat troublesome to me,” said Councillor Brad Walls, a former fireman who raised the issue in council chambers at the regular council meeting.
“Obviously the biggest thing that we can do for these people right now is supply the Red Cross. They really need funds up there. Being on the front lines in Carseland a number of years ago, you really gain the appreciation for what the men and women in uniform are doing for these people at this time. It’s a very serious situation.”
Walls further acknowledged the breakneck evacuation, the other hundreds of fires the province was forced to control, and the work provided by over 200 firefighters.
Other council members echoed the concerns and suggested taking on an active role to indicate the town’s support, not only for the residents of Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo, but also those who call Strathmore home.
“Many of those oilfield workers live here in Strathmore and work up there, and I think it’s going to affect them short-term and long-term and I would like to give them some sort of support,” said Councillor Steve Grajczyk.
“I know back when Brooks had trouble with their slaughter house with all their meat, we did donate to the Red Cross there… and I think because there’s a lot of people that pay taxes here in Strathmore, we should be doing the same thing for the Red Cross out there.
“There’s not only the short-term immediate program here, there’s the long-term of clean up of everything else. This is a disaster that affects everyone in the province on a long big scale.”
Councillor Denise Peterson agreed with Councillor Grajczyk on the notion of working together with the people in our community and inquired about a standing committee – or task force – for moving forward in a supportive mode.
According to administration, the town received a direct request from Fort McMurray looking for disaster social services assistance for the 80,000 people currently displaced. The assistance would be directed to the centres where the residents found shelter, not Wood Buffalo or Fort McMurray, council was assured.
Currently, two members of administration – one of them Deputy CAO Linda Nelson – are already registered with the Provincial Disaster Social Services.
To further voice Strathmore’s support and allegiance, Strathmore mayor Michael Ell made an attempt to contact the Fort McMurray Mayor Melissa Blake to no avail two weeks ago.
“We have an amazing province, a province that wants to get out there and make sure that we can help one another,” said Mayor Michael Ell. “There are many people that have been displaced and I understand that Suncor and Shell have evacuated many of their workers that are living in camps so the citizens of Fort McMurray have a place. There are many things going on in the province and if there’s any way you can assist … they’re going to need help and assistance and all sorts of things. Keep them in your prayers and thoughts.”
In a combined effort over the weekend, Strathmore and Brooks were able to raise over $75,000 in cash donations and deliver 55 pallets of supplies to the devastated area. Strathmore residents have also housed several Fort McMurray families and gathered clothing and donations that were then delivered up north.
Council voted in favour of directing administration to bring back terms of reference for a task force to town council as soon as possible.