Local support for Fort McMurray, Alberta, relief efforts

From dancing to donations, the Kincardine area is showing support for Fort McMurray, Alberta, relief efforts, following major wildfires that forced people from their homes and left a wasteland of damage.

Donna Sue Robson's morning Zumba class at the Davidson Centre danced for Fort McMurray, Friday morning, raising $1,960, including her pay plus $1 for every participant.



Zumba class dances for Fort McMurray, Alberta; photo courtesy of Donna Sue Robson

"The Zumba class and guests moved it and shook it, and when I took the $1,960 to the TD Bank, the bank matched it," said Robson. "With the government matching those dollars as well, we will be sending more than $5,800 to the community of Fort McMurray. What an amazing group we have and what an honour to be part of that!"



The Zumba class raises $1,960 for Fort McMurray relief; photo courtesy of Donna Sue Robson
 

---

Bruce Power held a gate collection Thursday, raising $36,000 for Red Cross relief efforts in Fort McMurray. The company will match those donations, bringing the total raised to more than $72,000, which will again double once the federal government and the Alberta government match those dollars as well.

 

“Our incredibly generous employees never fail to open their hearts and wallets in others’ time of need,” said Kevin Kelly, acting president and chief financial officer. “It seems everybody knows someone who has earned a living in Fort McMurray, and we’ve all been shocked by the unbelievable videos and photos that appeared on-line during the evacuation of the city. Although Fort Mac is far from our area, those images hit very close to home.”

 

The Red Cross has raised more than $60-million for the nearly 90,000 residents of Fort McMurray and surrounding areas who were forced to flee from raging wildfires in recent weeks.


 

Rob Liddle (L) Megan Adams and Jill Hunter, of the Bruce Power corporate affairs department, count the gate collection held Thursday for Fort McMurray, Alberta; photo courtesy of Bruce Power