An Ontario teenager is the latest good Samaritan to step forward and try to help those affected by the Thanksgiving Day floods in Cape Breton.
Emma Liska, a Grade 12 student at St. Mark High School in Manotick, O.N., is currently working to put together ‘Capital for the Cape‘ – a fundraising event for flood relief.
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The event will take place on Dec. 1 at D’Arcy McGee’s pub in Ottawa and features both entertainment and an auction.
Liska says she wants to encourage everyone to come out and have a good time, “like a typical Cape Breton kitchen party.”
Liska has strong connections to the Nova Scotia island, her family is from Cape Breton and she says she loves the culture and atmosphere of the region. Her cousin, Ashley Rose, lost her home and belongings during the flood, which saw 220 millimetres of rain fall across some parts of the island in just 12 hours.
WATCH: Cape Bretoners frustrated with insurance companies as flood cleanup continues
Liska says she was vacationing in Florida when Hurricane Matthew hit and saw the destruction with her own eyes. The widespread flooding and extensive damage in Cape Breton was caused by the remnants of the same storm system.
When the teen got home, she says she decided to plan a fundraiser to help those affected by the storm.
All proceeds from ‘Capital for the Cape’ will be donated to the United Way Cape Breton, which has been helping residents meet their basic needs.