This First Person article is the experience of Kimberley Johnson, an EDS Specialist for The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services. Kimberley spent a little over a week in Yellowknife preparing and serving meals to first responders fighting the wildfires. I am halfway home after an incredible experience serving the brave firefighters in the Yellowknife fires!  […]

Emergency Disaster Service (EDS) teams across Alberta came together at The Salvation Army’s Pine Lake Camp from April 28 to 30 for the EDS Training Weekend. The event marked the first time all the province’s units were in the same place at the same time. There were a lot of smiling faces and laughs shared  […]

It has been one year since the wildfire called ‘The Beast’ raged through Fort McMurray burning 5,000 square kilometres, destroying 2,400 structures, and leaving thousands homeless. Much has changed in Fort McMurray since the entire city was evacuated. Roughly 15,000 people have not returned to the community and for those who have returned, the psychological  […]

This Christmas, families and individuals in Fort McMurray who were affected by the wildfire in May are starting from scratch and The Salvation Army is offering practical support to help.   “I can go to my storage containers and pull out my winter coat, boots, Christmas tree, and decorations,” says Major Marina Jennings of The  […]

“Just a guy doing his job…" is how Fire Chief Darby Allen from the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo described himself during the Fort McMurray wildfire this past spring. But as the world watched in awe at the incredible destruction, they got to know Chief Allen as the human face of the wildfire crisis, and witnessed his great courage  […]

A look back at the devastating 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire and The Salvation Army's response with first responders, volunteers, and staff.

“As the community moves from response to re-entry to recovery and rebuilding, the local Salvation Army in Fort McMurray is beginning to consider and anticipate community needs,” says Captain Mark Stanley from The Salvation Army in Alberta. As of July 4, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry classified the wildfire as under control, completely contained and will  […]

As residents of Fort McMurray, Alberta have begun re-entering their city after the wildfire forced them to evacuate, The Salvation Army is there to help welcome them back. Sixty Salvation Army volunteers from across Alberta were on hand to help set up welcome stations at the seven re-entry Information Centres around the city. Volunteers offered  […]

Major Roy Langer, Divisional Director of Emergency & Disaster Services for Alberta & Northern Territories, was presented with a Medal of Honour from the town of Slave Lake by Mayor Karina Pillay-Kinnee on Decemebr 18, 2012, after being nominated by the R.C.M.P. for his efforts and services after the devestating wildfire that swept through the town on May 15,  […]