Riaz Mamdani and other Calgarians committed to helping evacuees
The Canadian province of Alberta is currently undergoing the worst natural disaster of the country’s history. The northern Alberta city of Fort McMurray was evacuated earlier this month after wildfires began ravaging the oil sector hub.
More than 80,000 residents were forced to flee the city, despite Premier Rachel Notley declaring a state of emergency and assigning all the province’s firefighting resources to the area.
With more than 150 hectares of land within and adjacent to the city destroyed, city officials believe it could be several months to perhaps a full year before Fort McMurray’s displaced residents are able to return home.
However, for many residents, there will be unfortunately nothing to return to. The trauma of losing their homes, property and all semblances of a routine life are proving to be the greatest challenges amid this horrendous tragedy.
“A house is four walls, but it is so much more than that,” evacuee Anthony Hoffman said. “Everything that shapes your life happens there. Everything you experienced as a family within the four walls, it watched.”
Stories like Hoffman’s are commonplace among those who left with little more than the clothes on their back and the cars in their driveway. As the fire within the city burned for days and days, many residents began migrating south to cities like Calgary and Edmonton -- and in true Alberta fashion, they are being received with open arms.
Calgary, which holds an annual Stampede and has gained an international reputation for its generous hospitality, has especially stepped up to help fellow Albertans. The city itself has opened a number of spaces as temporary shelters for evacuees, including the University of Calgary and Mount Royal College. The city is also working to integrate the displaced in more permanent ways.
Meanwhile, Calgary business people and executives are also rising to the occasion in terms of housing, aiding, and reintegrating Fort McMurray residents in Calgary.
Calgary businesses are offering discounted services and complimentary meals and the Calgary branch of the CBC has designed a ‘We got your back, Fort Mac’ shirt to raise funds to help resettle and house the residents who have lost everything.
In terms of long-term aid, Calgary property developer and philanthropist Riaz Mamdani has graciously offered up 70 suites in his company, Strategic Group’s Lake Ridge apartment complex in Spruce Grove.
“We are very committed to giving back at Strategic Group, and when we saw the devastation and our fellow Albertans in need, it was natural for us to help,” explained Riaz Mamdani, who is the Chief Executive Officer and founder of Strategic Group.
Riaz Mamdani is offering two months free rent for evacuees who take him up on his offer and can even provide furnishings to aid in the transition.
On another note of good news, in less than a week, the Canadian Red Cross raised $60 million dollars in national donation efforts, a number that was matched by the Canadian federal government. By May 12th, the province and the Red Cross were working to provide evacuees with prepaid debit cards to cover basic needs. Not to mention that donations keep pouring in from across the country and within Alberta.
“Sometimes, you have to find the silver lining,” said Jenn McManus, the Canadian Red Cross’s Vice President of Operations for Alberta. “Hands down, across Alberta, the generosity and openness to coordinate and put resources on the table has been truly remarkable.”