Helping families affected by home fires in Nunavut

Topics: Manitoba
August 20, 2019

Despite the colossal size of Canada’s largest territory, an incredible team of dedicated Red Cross volunteers based in Iqaluit support the residents of Nunavut around the clock by helping people impacted by small-scale disasters, such as house fires.

Whether they are supplying assistance by phone, or face-to-face, these compassionate Red Cross volunteers are there to help their fellow Nunavummiut in times of need. Over the past year, our team assisted more than 350 people. If the impacted people were far away from Iqaluit, our volunteers would still help by talking to them on the phone and arranging for local assistance.

However, the Red Cross did not just assist residents of Nunavut. In September 2018, the team was called to help with an unconventional response. A British Airways flight from London to Calgary had been forced to land in Iqaluit because of mechanical issues. Red Cross volunteers assisted the passengers by providing cots, blankets and comfort kits while they waited for a replacement plane to arrive.

“We have an incredible team of volunteers who are enthusiastic and dedicated to helping people in a variety of situations,” said Cailin Hodder, Canadian Red Cross Senior Manager of Emergency Response for Manitoba and Nunavut. “There are a number of unique of challenges but our team does an incredible job supporting people in need.”

Whenever someone is facing disaster Red Cross is there to help because of amazing volunteers like the team in Iqaluit.

Volunteers Michel Rheault and Ebony Rutko in Iqaluit
Volunteers Michel Rheault and Ebony Rutko in Iqaluit.
 
Red Cross staff Cailin Hodder and Annie Papadakis (far left and far right) present 5 year milestone awards to Red Cross volunteers Jae Redfern and Madeleine Redfern
Red Cross staff Cailin Hodder and Annie Papadakis (far left and far right) present 5 year milestone awards to Red Cross volunteers Jae Redfern and Madeleine Redfern.

Manitoba 2018-2019 Report Back to Communities
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