A Hero Among Us

Guest post by Corrie Butler, Canadian Red Cross Communications Coordinator

April 6-12 is National Volunteer Week. Meet some of the inspiring Red Cross volunteers who help us fulfill our mission in communities across Canada. 

Sirens piercing, phones ringing, and voices shouting above the din. People rushing in and out of chaos – hyper-focused on the urgency of their tasks.

Enter Donald Bourne – an emergency response senior advisor for the Red Cross – who thrives in crisis situations.

Bourne has worked on everything from fires and floods in Alberta to conflict zones and disasters around the world.

Prior to signing up with the Red Cross, Bourne served 23 years with the Canadian Military – including being deployed on several missions with the United Nations in Cyprus and Cambodia.

Despite his notable background, Bourne’s first volunteer application to the Red Cross wasn’t related to disaster management, logistics or operations.

“I actually heard an ad asking for volunteers to shovel snow for seniors, so I called and volunteered,” Bourne said. “But once I went through the interview, I was selected to go into disaster management.”

The rest is history. He said he’s been “hooked” ever since.

Global Reach
After several humanitarian responses in Canada, Bourne was selected to deploy to Puerto Rico after a devastating hurricane tore through the island. He went on to complete numerous deployments in Haiti, Angola, Iran, Kosovo, Macedonia, Serbia and Sudan.

He said these experiences helped him understand the fundamental principles of the Red Cross. For example, the requirement to stay neutral and impartial – even in times of armed conflict.

“Learning about the fundamental principles of the Red Cross is one thing, but truly understanding them takes time and work,” he said.

“Being deployed around the world in areas where the Red Cross is recognized as a safe place to go in times of conflict or disaster makes you truly understand.”

Local Roots
His work excelled, not only internationally, but also locally as the director for the Disaster Response Team in Alberta. During the northern Alberta Wildfires in 2011, Bourne managed the response and ongoing recovery.

“Normally it is me that deploys to disasters and now it seemed it was all of Canada helping out in my backyard. The volunteers and staff I meet inspire me. We are all there with one mission in mind: to help those affected by conflict or disaster. To see the passion they share rubs off on me,” he said.

Bourne said that in the midst of any disaster, his family is always what kept him grounded, “Staying in touch with them throughout the deployment provided me the strength to continue.”

A Fundamental Passion
Bourne’s passion for the work he does is undeniable. To him, it isn’t just work – it’s a way of life.

“I volunteer because of the principles the Red Cross is guided by. There are many wonderful organizations out there and I have worked side-by-side with many of them in Canada and abroad,” Bourne said.

“But for me, the Red Cross has become a family."

For more information on volunteering with the Canadian Red Cross, visit www.redcross.ca/volunteer.