“On behalf of Council, the City and all of our citizens, I would like to thank the many volunteers who worked with us during this past wildfire season,” said Mayor Victor Cumming. “Citizens rallied together during this emergency and gave generously of their time, compassion and personal skills, to work in the Reception Centre and provide ESS to evacuees from neighbouring communities. We all benefit when the community comes together and look after one another during disasters. I could not be prouder.”
During the luncheon, dignitaries from City of Vernon, Regional District of North Okanagan, Township of Spallumcheen and Thompson-Nicola Regional District attended to recognize and acknowledge the volunteers and the work they performed in the Dogwood Gym Reception Centre.
Over the course of 40 continuous days of ESS Reception Center operations, 169 volunteers contributed well over 6,000 hours of work, registered almost 3,000 evacuees from numerous jurisdictions, and provided evacuees with more than 10,000 referrals to commercial suppliers.
“Emergency Support Services is called the heart of emergency response,” said Fire Chief David Lind. “The work is delivered with compassion and empathy, primarily by civic minded volunteers who come forward to help their neighbours in a time of need.”
In addition to the ESS volunteers working in the Reception Centre, volunteers from the Canadian Red Cross, SPCA, Salvation Army and other non-government organizations also supported the White Rock Lake wildfire response.
Above (left to right): The City of Vernon thanks ESS volunteers for their service during the 2021 wildfire season. Nancy Hadley (volunteer), Fire Chief David Lind, Judy Button (volunteer), Linda Gillis (volunteer), Sue Saunders (Emergency Program Coordinator, City of Vernon), Mayor Victor Cumming.
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