Saskatchewan REPORT BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

Transcription

1 Saskatchewan REPORT BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

2 MESSAGE FROM THE COMMITTEE CHAIR & PROVINCIAL DIRECTOR Your support, be it financial or of your time, is making a difference right here in Saskatchewan and around the world. Because of you, the Canadian Red Cross was able to help families overwhelmed by large-scale flooding in the Philippines, in Alberta and in Cumberland House, as well as flooding and house fires affecting single families right here in Saskatchewan. You have helped families half a world away and right here in our own communities receive vital assistance and ensured that they didn t have to face the devastation alone. Because of you, thousands of Saskatchewan children and youth learned how to recognize, respond to and prevent bullying they see around them through Red Cross Violence, Bullying and Abuse Prevention programs. This year s Red Cross Day of Pink celebration was a great success with thousands of people joining the Red Cross to help make bullying a thing of the past. I would like to thank Travis Price, co-founder of Pink Day, for his continued support of bullying prevention education in Saskatchewan. You are making a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable in Canada and around the world. On behalf of the members of the Provincial Advisory Committee, I thank you. Regards, Scott Osmachenko Chair, Provincial Advisory Committee Thanks to your generosity, the Canadian Red Cross built safer communities in Saskatchewan by responding to disasters, teaching first aid and CPR, providing violence, bullying and abuse prevention education, water safety training and swimming lessons in Your support meant that more than 37,000 Saskatchewan youth gained the tools, skills and knowledge to build healthy relationships and prevent bullying. The Red Cross Day of Pink raised even more awareness to the issue and encouraged schools and communities to address bullying through education. Through your help, the Canadian Red Cross responded to many largescale disasters around the world and across Canada last year. When 154 families right here in Saskatchewan found themselves facing a personal disaster, like a house fire or flood, the Red Cross offered food, clothing, a safe place to stay, and other essential items. On behalf of those we serve, thank you for making Saskatchewan a safer, healthier place for all of us. Regards, Cindy Fuchs Provincial Director, Saskatchewan

3 Alberta floods affect Cumberland House As one Red Cross volunteer began to help evacuees staying at a shelter in Saskatoon start their journey home, one of them turned to her and said, I m glad to be going home, but I m sorry to be leaving too. In June of 2013, flood waters coming from Alberta forced the evacuation of 2,200 people from Cumberland House and Cumberland House Cree Nation, located north of Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan. While many evacuees stayed in shelters in Saskatoon and Prince Albert, some stayed with friends and family, and some stayed in hotels in Prince Albert, Nipawin and Melfort. Red Cross staff and volunteers worked tirelessly to meet the immediate needs of the evacuees by providing food, shelter and personal items like diapers, towels and shampoo. In partnership with the Ministry of Social Services and the Ministry of Government Relations, the Red Cross supported over 1,200 individuals. When news of the evacuation hit, the community responded. A flood relief concert was held and several community agencies like Arbor Memorial Foundation and the Saskatoon Christian Centre pledged funds and in-kind gifts. The business community also chipped in, including Farm Credit Canada, Northern Lights Casino, PotashCorp, Sears Canada, Walmart Prince Albert, Magic 98 Saskatoon, SIGA, Rainbow Theatre, Viterra and SGEU. I m glad to be going home, but I m sorry to be leaving too. - A Cumberland House Evacuee Photo: Red Cross volunteers help evacuees from Cumberland House

4 Canada-wide stats Saskatchewan stats OUR STRENGTH is in our volunteers and donors around in Saskatchewan 530 VOLUNTEERS contributed over 6,700 HOURS 20,000 VOLUNTEERS from coast to coast READY TO RESPOND when disaster strikes 156 FAMILIES 88,999 Canadians directly assisted following a disaster assisted after a personal disaster including house fires READY TO SUPPORT those in our communities Restoring Family Links program reunited 456 FAMILIES separated by conflict, disaster or migration here in Saskatchewan 6 BENEFICIARIES found their families with help from the same program

5 How we re helping Canadians here in Saskatchewan and coast to coast READY TO PREVENT injuries and abuse 645,503 Canadians took violence, bullying, and abuse prevention training. 20, ,000 youth received the youth stood up to bullying on Red Cross Day of Pink same training in Saskatchewan 609,367 Canadians took Red Cross First Aid courses 1,218,317 Canadians took Red Cross swimming and water safety lessons 28,000+ people received the same training here in Saskatchewan 58,000+ people across Saskatchewan took Red Cross swimming and water safety lessons TRULY SASKATCHEWAN unique initiatives in your province 1,200 STUDENTS learned important and empowering humanitarian messages through Red Cross Peace Education art therapy helped 81 VETERANS enhance their quality of life at Wascana Rehabilitation Centre

6 I m going to sleep great tonight because all of the kids stood up and promised not to bully me tomorrow. - A Saskatchewan student RED CROSS DAY OF PINK SPONSORED BY Wearing Pink to Change Lives In April 2013, the Canadian Red Cross brought schools and communities together across the province to wear pink and let people know that bullying is no longer acceptable. Students held rallies, whole communities marched in the streets and hundreds of businesses donned pink shirts all in support of the fourth annual Red Cross Day of Pink, presented by SaskEnergy. At one of the rallies held in Moose Jaw, the day meant something far greater than anyone would have expected. When the rally finished, a student approached his teacher and said, I m going to sleep great tonight because all of the kids stood up and promised not to bully me tomorrow. That s exactly the impact that Travis Price and David Shepherd had in mind when they decided to stand up for a fellow student who was being bullied for wearing a pink shirt in The Red Cross and K+S Potash brought Travis to Saskatchewan to share his story. For 30 years the Red Cross has worked closely with schools and communities to create safer environments for all youth. Education is the key to prevent bullying behaviour. The Canadian Red Cross Beyond the Hurt program teaches youth and adults how to recognize, respond to and prevent bullying situations. During the school year alone, over 37,000 Saskatchewan youth participated in Red Cross violence, bullying and abuse prevention programs. The Red Cross Day of Pink was made possible with thanks to presenting sponsor SaskEnergy; supporting sponsors RBC Royal Bank, K+S Potash, and Saskatchewan Credit Unions; the Official T-Shirt supplier, Extreme Hockey and Sport; and the official transportation supplier, STC. Photo: Students celebrate Red Cross Day of Pink at a rally held in Regina

7 How Gregg earned a Red Cross Rescuer Award When an elderly man collapsed beside him, Gregg Sheppard yelled for help and put his Red Cross First Aid and CPR skills to use. When I touched him, there was no pulse, said Sheppard, who hails from North Battleford, Sask. Despite his best efforts, the man didn t survive but Sheppard got another chance when his brother-in-law experienced a heart attack. Sheppard recognized the symptoms and immediately started CPR. This time it worked. It s for those actions that Gregg Sheppard received the Canadian Red Cross Rescuer Award. Red Cross Rescuer Awards, sponsored by Walmart, are presented to non-professional rescuers or off-duty first responders who have: volunteered to save a life; prevented further injury and/or provided comfort to the injured; or are children who were not trained but provided help. When I touched him, there was no pulse. - Gregg Sheppard RED CROSS RESCUER AWARDS SPONSORED BY Student helps Typhoon Haiyan survivors She s only eight years old, but she wanted to help out any way she could. Hanna, a Grade Three student from Porcupine Plain, Sask., first learned about Typhoon Haiyan during a Social Studies class. After hearing about the devastation in the Philippines, she wondered how she could help those who were affected. That night, Hanna suggested to her mom that she could dance for people, which sparked the idea of organizing a talent show, as well as a supper and family dance. With the help of the local Filipino community, Hanna s Funds for Philippines event was a great success, raising $3,600 for the Canadian Red Cross Typhoon Haiyan fund! The Canadian Red Cross thanks all of our committed donors, including Hanna, for helping raise over $46.7 million throughout Canada. It s made a world of difference to the impacted communities in the Philippines. Photos (left to right) Laura Beddome of the Red Cross and Gregg Sheppard; Hanna raised $3,600 for the Red Cross Typhoon Haiyan fund

8 Photo: (Left to right) Richard Ahenakew, Tom Newton, Tami Wall, Victor Thomas, Carol Skelton, Lance Donison, Wade Moffatt Red Cross Executive Cabinet The Canadian Red Cross Executive Cabinet in Saskatchewan is the first of its kind in Canada. Members are responsible for providing strategic perspective, raising the profile of the Canadian Red Cross in the business community and helping to expand the support of Red Cross work in Saskatchewan. The Canadian Red Cross extends its gratitude to the Executive Cabinet for its assistance in helping the organization grow even stronger in OUR SUPPORTERS The following companies and organizations joined all of our donors in making a financial investment in the Canadian Red Cross. We thank them for helping us provide lifesaving and life-changing services in Saskatchewan. Abbey Farming Co. Ltd. Battleford United Way BHP Billiton B Nai Brith Lodge #739 Bourgault Industries Ltd. Boyd Excavating Ltd. Business Furnishings Sask. Ltd. Canada Summer Jobs Canpotex Ltd. Cindercrete Products Ltd. City of Saskatoon Community Initiatives Fund Co-operators Life Insurance Company Cornwall Centre Mall Extreme Hockey and Sport Federated Co-operatives Limited First Nations Employment Centre G. Murray and Edna Forbes Foundation Government of Saskatchewan HVAC Sales (1997) Inc. Inspirit Foundation Iron Workers Local No. 771 Jarrod Oils Ltd. K + S Potash Canada Kenosee Inn Resort Hotel Kutz Family Foundation Corp. Leslie & Irene Dube Foundation Madonna Foundation Malcolm J Jenkins Family Foundation Incorporation Mosaic Canada ULC Penna Holdings Ltd. Prince Albert and Area Community Foundation Potash Corp Community Grant Rawlco Radio RBC Royal Bank of Canada Saskatchewan Credit Unions Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association Sask Culture Inc. SaskEnergy Thank You! Saskatchewan Lotteries Trust Fund for Sport, Culture and Recreation Sask Sport Inc. SGEU SIGA Snake Lake Construction Ltd. Stantec STC (Saskatchewan Transportation Company) Sterling Truck & Trailer Sales Ltd. Student Summer Works Superior Millwork Ltd. The Tree of Life Thunder Creek Pork Inc. United Way of Estevan United Way of Saskatoon & Area U of S Student Fundraising Weyburn and District United Way Wheaton Family Foundation Veterans Affairs Canada Viterra Inc.