Advertisement

Calgarians band together to help Jasper residents seeking refuge from wildfire

Click to play video: 'Calgary organizations band together to help displaced Jasper residents'
Calgary organizations band together to help displaced Jasper residents
WATCH: Earlier this week, people were fleeing their homes, hotel rooms and campsites in Jasper as a wildfire approached and now, those flames have destroyed some properties. As Joelle Tomlinson reports, Calgarians are taking action to help – Jul 25, 2024

It was 1 a.m. Tuesday when Jasper resident Ted Turnbull had to pack up what he could, grab his dog Oreo, and flee from the Alberta mountain town as a wildfire approached.

“I did what I could,” said Turnbull, who lives with a disability and has issues walking. In the scramble to catch the bus that would take him to Calgary, he couldn’t find his two cats, who he was forced to leave behind.

“It was like it was snowing,” Turnbull recalls tearfully. “All the ash falling.”

Once displaced Jasper residents arrive in Calgary, organizations are mobilizing to help where they can. Parachutes for Pets is helping to walk Oreo and supply Turnbull, and other evacuees, with all their pet needs.

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

The Calgary Humane Society is offering similar supports, along with the Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society.

Story continues below advertisement

Other resources for displaced Jasper residents include The Samaritan’s Purse, the Distress Centre Calgary, Calgary Counselling Centre, The Veteran’s Food Bank Calgary, Red Cross and more.

211 Alberta is updating a daily list of resources supporting those affected by Alberta wildfires here.

In a conference Thursday, Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek urged people wanting to offer help to submit those offers via email to EmergencySupportOffers@gov.ab.ca.

Sponsored content

AdChoices