KELOWNA, B.C. – Chute Lake Elementary School is only steps away from forests that are still charred from the wildfire that roared through the Okanagan community in 2003.
While the children who attend the school weren’t born yet, their families and teachers remember what it was like to lose homes.
That’s why the school turned an annual spring fundraiser into an opportunity to help Fort McMurray families who have just lost everything in the wildfire that destroyed more than 2,400 homes and businesses.
“Obviously, they’ve been following the news and seeing what’s been going on,” said Principal Bruce McKay of his students.
“This year we decided we can live with what we have for next year and put the money towards folks that need it more than we do.”
Because Fort McMurray was going to benefit from the funds raised, more people attended the event Friday night than in previous years.
McKay believed upwards of $10,000 could be raised to benefit the Alberta families effected.