[Click to Enlarge] Fort McMurray residents evacuating along Highway 63 as the fire encroaches on the area.
DarrenRD/Wikipedia

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Union supports Canadian Red Cross, disaster relief fund

THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD of Boilermakers is appealing to members across North America to contribute to relief funds in response to the devastating northern Alberta wildfires that have ravaged the city of Fort McMurray and much of the surrounding area. More than 80,000 people were forced to evacuate the community, and thousands of oil sands workers left the area as refineries shut down as a precaution.

International Vice President Joe Maloney said the Boilermakers International in Canada has contributed $10,000 to the Canadian Red Cross, another $10,000 has been donated by the Boilermaker Contractors’ Association (BCA). The Province of Alberta and the Canadian federal government each have pledged to match all amounts donated to the Red Cross in response to the wildfires, Maloney said.

Meanwhile, Boilermaker local lodges across Canada have begun donations of their own. Local 146 (Edmonton, Alberta) BM-ST Dean Milton said his lodge has donated $5,000 to the Red Cross, and more money is expected after members have an opportunity to meet and vote on additional contributions.

International President Newton B Jones has announced a general appeal to members for donations to the Boilermakers’ Disaster Relief Fund. Donations can be made to:

Boilermaker’s Disaster Relief Fund
C/O IST William T. Creeden
International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
753 State Ave., Suite 570
Kansas City, KS 66101

To find out more about making donations, contact the International at 913-371-2640.

BM-ST Milton said that more than 40 L-146 members live in Fort McMurray and that the homes of at least two members have been confirmed destroyed. He said 1,500 to 2,000 Boilermakers, including travelers, were forced out of their shut-down work and new construction projects as a result of the fires.

"That work is now on hold," said IVP Maloney.

"This tragedy has united the trades across Canada, as well as many other people in this country and around the world," he said. "Everybody who has been involved in responding to this disaster deserves a great big thank you."

As of May 9, no fatalities have been directly attributed to the wildfires, Maloney said.