Community steps up

I would like to thank you, you great people, who care about your community and the people who live here. You volunteer because you believe it is the right thing to do. You have come and opened the doors to The Emergency Reception Centre and helped our citizens meet and get through some of the hardest days in their lives while the wildfires chased them from their homes.

We need to thank you for your time, your dedication, your ceaseless and uncomplaining help for the people who have been impacted by the fires that have threatened our homes and our lives these past few days.

You volunteers who have given their time and energy at the Emergency Reception Centre have worked tirelessly, and long hours with no thought of payment or reward. For only some coffee and donated food you have volunteered and helped your neighbors, friends and families through some very difficult times. You have held hands, kept hope alive in people, given reassurances that everything will be OK and you expect nothing. But you deserve so more.

You have helped over 800 people since the wildfire emergency started and you will help more before the fires are finally drowned. I cannot thank you enough and never have I been prouder to work with a group of people. Your efforts and dedication should be examples to everyone who wants to be a good neighbor.

The Emergency Reception Centre at the Cranbrook Curling rink has taken on a warmth that the ice sheets could never have imagined.

I would also like to thank the Salvation Army, ?aq’am, the Heid Out Restaurant, SafeWay/Sobey’s, The Cranbrook Curling Club, Starbucks, Tim’s, Barb’s Bakery, Dominos Pizza and MacDonald’s for your support. I would like to also thank the people who have walked in from the street and said “I want to help, tell me what I can do”. Your generosity is much appreciated and you made the Emergency Services Program better and a more caring place to work.

And for the firefighters, you should know that the people the Reception Centre helped and our Volunteers all say thank you and to be careful. You were always included in people’s thoughts as they came to the Centre for help. Fires of this size are fought on many levels and by many people. We are glad we could help you and support you while you did a very dangerous and difficult job.

I hope we can close our doors soon and people can get on with their lives. But the volunteers and firefighters need to know you have done a good job and if we have to fight the fires there is no one better or more capable to do the job than you.

Thank you.

Bill Barger

Emergency Services Director

RDEK

Much Gratitude

Kelly and Carolyn Brooks wish to extend an appreciation for the professional care and progress made in Kelly’s recovery due to our experienced first responders, VGH, GF Strong, and EKRH staff. We are excited and thankful for the collaboration on construction going full speed ahead at the home front. We are extremely close to creating new dreams under the same roof thanks to KC Home Medical, New Dawn Developments, Kimberley Electric, Deans Plumbing, and Bridge Interiors. An additional heartfelt thank you goes to Denham Ford for making it possible for us to have wheels. The freedom to have home visits and get out in the community during Kelly’s extended stay at EKRH, has meant the world to us.

To fully thank each kind act behind the fundraising events feels enormous. Every generous contribution gifted to us, whether from businesses, professionals, clubs, healers, hugs and prayers has expanded our hearts with gratitude. We feel that a miracle happened when Anette Hagman decided to take on the role of spearheading funding for us last October. We are forever grateful for your efforts in creating an awareness of our challenges, and your inspiring energy , sparking people to reach out and be supportive in an overwhelming way.

We can only hope that our gratitude and love towards our community, family and friends for supporting us, is known. These gifts of support allowed us to concentrate on the healing aspect of this journey. We are now prepared to restart our life at home, with that same inspiring energy. This experience has changed who we are and what we know is true. We know that altruism is our healing gift from all of you.

Thank you.

Kelly and Carolyn Brooks