Northern Alberta Wildfires 2011- Canadian Red Cross

Northern Alberta Wildfires 2011



The Canadian Red Cross is committed to helping rebuild fire-affected communities

$2 Million Announced for Fire-Affected Organizations

The Canadian Red Cross is proud to announce the results of the Northern Alberta Wildfires Community Project fund. The $2 million project will provide funding to various community groups impacted by Alberta’s largest natural disaster.

A committee of fire-affected community leaders and Red Cross volunteers selected 23 projects to benefit from the fund. Each of the committee members were chosen for their diverse backgrounds and connection to the community. For bios for each of the committee members please click here.

The projects were chosen to build capacity within fire-affected communities and to support key community gathering points. The selected projects range from replacing destroyed sports equipment to helping to repair the roof of a local community organization. For a complete list of selected projects please click here.

After an extensive proposal process, the committee evaluated 49 projects based on several criteria including perceived benefit to the community, project budget, service to vulnerable community members and project creativity/innovation.

The $2 million for the Community Project fund was earmarked from donations made to the Red Cross relief effort in Northern Alberta. In total, the Canadian Red Cross raised $5.5 million in response to the wildfires. All these funds have gone directly to supporting the recovery and relief effort to those affected by the fires.

Find out more about how donations have been put to work in the region

As the community rebuilds, one home at a time, Red Cross is there, with a permanent presence right in Slave Lake and support from staff and volunteers.

The Canadian Red Cross continues to provide support and recovery assistance to individuals and families who have been directly affected by the wildfires. If you are experiencing financial hardship while moving back to your new home or generally feeling overwhelmed, the Red Cross may be able to help or connect you with support.

See how we may be able to help»

Nothing but admiration for the Red Cross

Sharon Green, Director of the Centennial Daycare in Slave Lake, and the rest of the staff had been mandated back to work two weeks after the fires occurred. More

Rebuilding with Red Cross support

When Slave Lake resident Wade Horton left for work the day of the northern Alberta wildfires evacuation, he had a home and an office. By the end of the day, both had been destroyed. More

Red Cross a leader in Slave Lake response

From the beginning of the evacuation, Slave Lake Mayor Karina Pillay-Kinnee felt fortunate to have the Red Cross assisting residents in coping with the disaster. More

The long road home

Long-time volunteer Susan Mackenzie was one of the first Red Cross workers deployed to Slave Lake to help the evacuees returning home. More

An honour to be part of the Red Cross team

A five-year Red Cross volunteer and Deputy Operations Manager for the Northern Alberta wildfires disaster, Doug Bryson came all the way from St. Johns, Newfoundland, to volunteer on two separate occasions. More