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Canadians donate $30M to Red Cross for Fort McMurray relief effort

By staff The Canadian Press

Posted May 6, 2016 12:42 pm EST

Updated May 6, 2016 1:07 pm EST

1 min read

This article is more than 8 years old and some information may not be up to date.

TORONTO – The Canadian Red Cross says people from across the country have come together to show their support and compassion for Fort McMurray, donating $30 million for the relief effort in the northern Alberta community.

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Canadian Red Cross President Conrad Sauve says that just on Thursday, more than 100,000 people texted his organization to donate.

READ MORE: Fort McMurray fire: Ottawa to match donations to Red Cross

Calling it an unprecedented “Canadian moment,” Sauve says the Red Cross is working with Alberta and Ottawa to ensure that those in need will receive help.

Sauve says that to date, the Red Cross has registered 14,000 families that need help and volunteers are reaching out to others who require assistance.

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READ MORE: Highway 63 convoys begin Friday to bring trapped evacuees south

He says that while the Canadian Red Cross is working to meet the emergency needs in the devastated community, it is also working with the local authorities to make sure they continue to play an
important role during the long-term recovery.

READ MORE: Fort McMurray fire: Premier Notley looks at long road to recovery for evacuees

Both the federal and Alberta governments have promised to match all donations to the Red Cross for the relief efforts in Fort McMurray.

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Aerial view of highway 63 south of Fort McMurray taken from a CH-146 Griffon helicopter on May 5, 2016. The Canadian Armed Forces have air assets deployed in support of the Province of Alberta's wildfire emergency response efforts. Photo by: MCPL VanPutten, 3 CSDB Imaging EN2016-0060-13 Photo by: MCPL VanPutten, 3 CSDB Imaging

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Members from 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, Edmonton fly a CH-146 Griffon to view the damage created by wild fires in the Fort McMurray area on May 5, 2016.The Canadian Armed Forces have air assets deployed in support of the Province of Alberta's wildfire emergency response efforts. Photo by: MCPL VanPutten, 3 CSDB Imaging

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Aerial view of highway 63 south of Fort McMurray taken from a CH-146 Griffon helicopter on May 5, 2016. The Canadian Armed Forces have air assets deployed in support of the Province of Alberta's wildfire emergency response efforts. Photo by: MCPL VanPutten, 3 CSDB Imaging

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Aerial view of highway 63 south of Fort McMurray taken from a CH-146 Griffon helicopter on May 5, 2016. The Canadian Armed Forces have air assets deployed in support of the Province of Alberta's wildfire emergency response efforts. Photo by: MCPL VanPutten, 3 CSDB Imaging

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Aerial view of Fort McMurray taken from a CH-146 Griffon helicopter on May 5, 2016. The Canadian Armed Forces have air assets deployed in support of the Province of Alberta's wildfire emergency response efforts. Photo by: MCPL VanPutten, 3 CSDB Imaging

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Aerial view of highway 63 south of Fort McMurray taken from a CH-146 Griffon helicopter on May 5, 2016. The Canadian Armed Forces have air assets deployed in support of the Province of Alberta's wildfire emergency response efforts. Photo by: MCPL VanPutten, 3 CSDB Imaging EN2016-0060-12 Photo by: MCPL VanPutten, 3 CSDB Imaging

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Aerial view of highway 63 south of Fort McMurray taken from a CH-146 Griffon helicopter on May 5, 2016. The Canadian Armed Forces have air assets deployed in support of the Province of Alberta's wildfire emergency response efforts. Photo by: MCPL VanPutten, 3 CSDB Imaging

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Aerial view of Fort McMurray taken from a CH-146 Griffon helicopter on May 5, 2016. The Canadian Armed Forces have air assets deployed in support of the Province of Alberta's wildfire emergency response efforts. Photo by: MCPL VanPutten, 3 CSDB Imaging

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Aerial view of highway 63 south of Fort McMurray taken from a CH-146 Griffon helicopter on May 5, 2016. The Canadian Armed Forces have air assets deployed in support of the Province of Alberta's wildfire emergency response efforts. Photo by: MCPL VanPutten, 3 CSDB Imaging

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Satellite imagery of the affected area from the Fort McMurray wildfire. Google / Terra Bella

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Satellite imagery of the affected area from the Fort McMurray wildfire. Google / Terra Bella

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Satellite imagery of the affected area from the Fort McMurray wildfire. Google / Terra Bella

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Satellite imagery of the affected area from the Fort McMurray wildfire. Google / Terra Bella

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Satellite imagery of the affected area from the Fort McMurray wildfire. Google / Terra Bella

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Satellite imagery of the affected area from the Fort McMurray wildfire.

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© 2016 The Canadian Press

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