The parent company of the News-Optimistand Regional Optimistnewspapers is stepping up to help Fort Mac.
The JuneWarren-Nickle’s Energy Group (JWN) and its parent company, Glacier Media, announced they are donating $50,000 toward Red Cross efforts in Fort McMurray.
According to a statement from Bill Whitelaw, JWN president and Glacier executive vice-president, the donation is also made on behalf of other individual Glacier business units, who will undertake their own awareness and fundraising efforts to help the city and its residents rebuild their community and their lives.
According to Tim Shoults, vice-president of content and audience development, this is a way for Glacier to use their collective involvement in community newspapers throughout western Canada to rally their readers to help Fort McMurray.
“This way, we can rally our readers, our customers and our communities to get behind the Red Cross efforts in a way that allows contributions of all sizes,” said Shoults in a release.
Glacier is also creating an integrated crowdfunding campaign with all proceeds going the Red Cross efforts, which is found at www.fundaid.ca/fortmac.
The Fort McMurray disaster and evacuation has been a leading news story throughout Canada. But Whitelaw stressed how important it was for Canadians from coast to coast to have a sense beyond the headlines of the importance of Fort McMurray to the overall Canadian economy.
“It’s just not an Alberta dynamic ... all Canadians need to step up and help get this engine running on all cylinders again, putting people, companies and their welfare front and centre,” said Whitelaw.
He noted the oilsands sector is “a key part of our energy practice at JWN ... we know these companies and these communities well. Like all other organizations that have stepped up with support, we want these folks to know we have their back.”
He also added that their contribution is going to the Red Cross in order to ensure the dollars donated get amplified through provincial and federal contributions.
Glacier will also step up their other areas of business such as mining, agriculture, environmental services and community media, to keep people aware of the challenges Fort McMurray faces in the coming weeks and months.
“In one way or another, all of our businesses touch Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo,” said Whitelaw. “Besting the fire was just the first among many challenges still to come.”
