Alberta and Canada to match donations to Red Cross to help wildfire victims

The Alberta and Canadian governments are setting up a donating matching initiative with the Canadian Red Cross to help those affected by wildfires, including Jasper residents who were severely impacted.

Both governments will match all donations to the Canadian Red Cross 2024 Alberta Wildfires Appeal, meaning every $1 donated will turn into $3.

The donation matching will be for 30 days and is retroactive to when it first opened on July 25.

“The Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta stand by Albertans and all those affected by the wildfires, and we will continue to work together to do everything we can to ensure public safety and help rebuild,” said Canada’s Minister of Emergency Preparedness Harjit S. Sajjan.

“I want to thank the first responders, volunteers, non-governmental organizations, and emergency managers across all levels of governments and Indigenous communities for their heroic work in the response and recovery efforts in Alberta.”

More than 20,000 people in and around the town in the Rocky Mountains four hours west of Edmonton were ordered to evacuate late Monday night due to fast-moving wildfires.

Parks Canada said Saturday that the wildfire that’s destroyed hundreds of structures in the town of Jasper is the largest to burn in the national park in 100 years and continues to burn out of control.

They expect to be battling the fire for three more months.

Officials estimated 30 per cent of the town’s structures were damaged by the wildfire, with 358 of the town’s 1,113 structures destroyed. They later said most of the affected buildings are considered destroyed.