UNews - Canadian Red Cross

United Way a key part of community

trevor.kenney — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 22:32:22 +0000

The month of December is noted as a time of giving and recognizing the challenges of people in need. Supporting the United Way is one such way to make a difference.

This year, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's United Way campaign is taking on a different look. A new website (www.uleth.ca/unitedway) speaks to the benefit of the community organization and how its impact is felt by virtually everyone in southern Alberta.

Clark Ferguson, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's chief information officer, has taken up the charge as campaign Chair, and he's eager to share his reasons for supporting the United Way.

"As a relative newcomer to the city, I've been looking for opportunities to connect with people in the community and share my skills and experience," says Ferguson. "I am so impressed with the United Way's impact and I think it's important to understand just how far they reach into the community and how valuable it is we support the agencies and programs they provide."

Clark Ferguson is the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's 2011 United Way campaign Chair.

The United Way of Lethbridge & South Western Alberta supports a total of 21 different agencies and 25 programs, things that impact our families, friends, neighbours and co-workers. From the Big Brothers Big Sisters to Boys & Girls Clubs, the Canadian Red Cross and the St. John's Ambulance, the United Way is an essential element of a supportive community.

"Their Give, Volunteer, Act slogan speaks to the United Way mission and allows the opportunity for everyone to support the campaign in their own way," says Ferguson.

He urges ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ staff and faculty to either give a small donation through a regular payroll deduction plan, volunteer their time to any one of the many programs and services provided by the United Way, or to act and become a catalyst for positive change in the community.

"I'm particularly impressed by our students' contributions. JDC West, a student group that competes annually in a business case competition, raises money every year through its Chillin' 4 Charity event. This year the group raised a record $20,000. That's a substantial injection of funds. In addition, they donate their time to a variety of local charities. We are definitely proud of their commitment."

Ferguson says the United Way in some manner has influenced us all.

"I think it's important to recognize the value the United Way provides to this community and to give back; even if it is in a small way, every donation adds up to powerful change."

GET THE FACTS

· In the past year, the United Way handed out Baby Bundles filled with nutritional food and safety products to 1,468 new and expecting parents

· In the past year, a total of 519 women and children received shelter from a violent spouse

· In the past year, 88 youth in need of a role model were matched with a mentor

· In the past year, 5,135 pieces of medical equipment were loaned out to 3,145 individuals

This story first appeared in the December 2011 issue of the Legend. If you'd like to see the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Kulig study a blueprint for recovery

trevor.kenney — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 22:14:40 +0000

The recent fire in Slave Lake, Alta. has left many people wondering how the community will rebuild and, most importantly, cope with the aftermath of a devastating event that destroyed approximately one third of the community, including homes, the library, town government offices, businesses and much more.

The answer to that lies in the overall health and resiliency of the community itself – and there is strong evidence to back that statement from researchers like Dr. Judith Kulig (health sciences) who, with several colleagues, has spent the past decade examining what happens in smaller communities when disaster strikes, and how the overall health of the community is reflected in its ability to recover from disaster.

Dr. Judith Kulig researches community resiliency after tragedies such as wildfire events.

Over the past decade, wildfires in Canada have forced nearly 700,000 people to be evacuated from more than 250 communities. This has caused massive amounts of financial, environmental and personal damage, including job losses, the loss of residents in a community, as well as lingering health and emotional challenges.

The research team, which includes
Dr. Ivan Townshend (geography) and members from universities in Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, Ontario and Australia, has studied fires in Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia and has found that there are common elements that can contribute to increasing a sense of community resiliency in the face of large-scale disasters, such as wildfires.

Disaster Preparedness

· Develop memorandums of understanding with relevant agencies to ensure that during and after the disaster, arising issues are addressed and that lines of communication and authority are in place.

· Develop public education and disaster awareness that is appropriate for the community (e.g., having a livestock evacuation plan).

· Create an updated community disaster plan, which identifies a back-up community that could assist, and transportation plans for evacuations (e.g., use of school busses).

· Maintain up-to-date maps to locate all individuals that may need evacuation.

· Establish policies to determine if large gatherings planned for the time period of an evacuation or evacuation alert should be cancelled.

During the Disaster

· Develop communication strategies so that the evacuees are updated about the condition of their homes and community during the wildfire.

· Create effective coordination of all relevant agencies.

· Ensure adequate safety and surveillance procedures are in place for vacated property.

After the Disaster

· Collect economic, social and health data in communities that experience wild-fires for 5 years after the wildfire and then every 10 years for 3 more decades.

· Develop temporary programs for the school-aged population to help them deal with the ongoing issues associated with the wildfire.

· Provide long-term mental health/community change facilitation for all community members.

· Provide financial counseling for families.

Fostering Community Resiliency

· Providing opportunities for local residents to gather and reflect on the disaster experience thereby building their networks and developing
opportunities for interaction.

· Organize celebrations to provide avenues for social support while also creating a sense of belonging and community.

· Provide support for local leaders and develop mechanisms to create the next generation of leaders within the community.

Complete study results are available on the rural wildfire website (www.ruralwildfire.ca).

Donations are still being accepted for the Slave Lake recovery process through the Canadian Red Cross (www.redcross.ca).

This story first appeared in the Legend. To view the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Japanese students launch relief campaign

trevor.kenney — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 16:34:42 +0000

The Mar. 11 Japanese earthquake and tsunami has had a profound effect on the world at large, but it has also hit close to home as a number of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge international students are from Japan or have ties to the region.

Beginning Wednesday, Mar. 16, the Japanese students, working with staff from the International Centre for Students, are launching a fundraising and awareness campaign to support relief efforts.

In addition to charitable organizations promoted by the Japanese students, people can also support two major charities operating in the region - Shelterbox International and the Canadian Red Cross.

Look for an awareness display just outside the main entrance to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Library.

You can donate online to these organizations by visiting these websites:

Shelterbox

http://shelterboxcanada.org/

Red Cross

http://www.redcross.ca

Japanese Earthquake / Tsunami Update

trevor.kenney — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 20:50:21 +0000

March 11, 2011
On Friday March 11, 2011, an 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit Japan.

This triggered 4 metre waves in Japan and tsunami warnings across the Pacific coastline, including British Columbia.

Hundreds of people are reported dead, and many more are injured or missing. The earthquake has caused fires and severe damage to buildings, leaving more than 4 million households without electricity.

The students traveling to Japan on ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge exchanges are accounted for and safe.
Four Faculty of Management students have been contacted, are in areas unaffected by the earthquake/tsunami, and are on their way to their host universities.

Students from Japan at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge have been contacted by staff at the International Centre for Students and at this time none of their immediate families have been affected.

Counselling services are available for those wishing to speak to someone about how this has affected them personally. They can be reached through this website: http://www.uleth.ca/counselling/

DONATIONS FOR RELIEF EFFORTS

Beginning next week, the Japanese students, working with staff from the International Centre for Students, will be launching a fundraising and awareness campaign to support relief efforts in Japan through two major charities -- Shelterbox International and the Canadian Red Cross.

Look for awareness displays on campus next week, locations TBA.

You can donate online to these organizations by visiting these websites:

Shelterbox

http://shelterboxcanada.org/

Red Cross

http://www.redcross.ca

The Government of Canada has information relating to the earthquake and tsunami at this website:

http://www.international.gc.ca/humanitarian-humanitaire/japan_earthquake_japon_seisme.aspx?lang=eng

Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.

Relevant Media links can be found here:

CBC: http://www.redcross.ca

CTV: http://www.ctv.ca/

Global TV: http://www.globaltv.com/

CNN: http://cnn.com

Alumnus headlines SACPA event

trevor.kenney — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:10:09 +0000

The Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA) will present a special evening session, Thursday, Apr. 29 at the Lethbridge Public Library featuring ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge alumnus Virgil Grandfield (BA '92).

Outsourcing Disaster: Human Trafficking and Humanitarian Failure in Aceh's Tsunami Reconstruction? is the title of the talk, beginning at
7 p.m. in the library's theatre gallery.

In 2006-2009, one of the most wretched places to be a construction worker in Indonesia was on a "humanitarian" reconstruction project in the tsunami-devastated province of Aceh.

Instead of receiving benefits from the largest, most generously-funded humanitarian operation in history, research indicates that tens of thousands of Javanese construction workers were falsely recruited for exploitative use and/or involuntary labour, under conditions defined as "human trafficking" or "modern slavery."

The social disaster throughout Aceh and Java was borne mostly by Javanese laborers, some of whom died in Aceh because of abuse and neglect.

Speaker Virgil Grandfield will contend that disproportionate numbers of trafficked victims were from larger projects managed by Red Cross, United Nations, development banks and NGO's.

In every community visited by investigative teams, witnesses have testified that many or most of 200,000 Javanese tsunami workers were unpaid, hungry and had to escape to find other work or ways to travel 2000km home.

Grandfield grew up in Texas and achieved degrees in political science at the U of L and journalism at Concordia ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Montreal (1993).

In the mid 90s, he started the first Canadian educational consulting agency in Mexico and in 1999 after Hurricane Mitch in Central America, began a career in the humanitarian field of work.

Grandfield became a Canadian Red Cross delegate after working in the Blood Reserve flood response in 2002 and was deployed to Aceh, Indonesia in 2005 as part of the International Red Cross tsunami operation.

Returning to Aceh in 2007, Grandfield discovered human trafficking of workers in Canadian Red Cross operations and resigned as a delegate in 2008 to find these "modern slaves" and their families and help them seek justice from those relief agencies which used and abandoned them in Aceh.

Beverly Muendel-Atherstone will serve as moderator for this event.

International Centre serving as drop-off point for Haiti relief

trevor.kenney — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:48:25 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's International Centre for Students is serving as a drop-off point for donations to help the struggling residents of Haiti.

Residents in Haiti are working to recover from a powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Haiti earlier this week. The earthquake has caused buildings to collapse and widespread damage throughout Port au Prince.

The Canadian Red Cross has contributed $200,000 from its International Disaster Relief Fund and Canadian aid workers are on standby to be deployed to Haiti if needed.

Canadians are encouraged to support Red Cross relief efforts by making a financial donation to the Canadian Red Cross Haiti Earthquake fund.

Those who wish to make donations on campus can do so at a Canadian Red Cross donation box located in the International Centre for Students (SU047). All money raised will be passed on to the Canadian Red Cross Haiti Earthquake fund.

A charitable receipt for tax deductions will be provided upon request. When you make your donation at the International Centre for Students, please use the envelope provided by the Canadian Red Cross and indicate a receipt is required.

Alternatively, you may make a payment online with the Red Cross at: https://www.paypaq.com/redcross/new/

Please direct any questions or concerns to charlene.janes@uleth.ca

UNews - Canadian Red Cross

United Way a key part of community

Related Topics

Kulig study a blueprint for recovery

Related Topics

Japanese students launch relief campaign

Related Topics

Japanese Earthquake / Tsunami Update

Related Topics

Alumnus headlines SACPA event

Related Topics

International Centre serving as drop-off point for Haiti relief

Related Topics