Resilience shines through

Photo: Contributed - Jeff Ashe

A new resilience centre for British Columbians impacted by wildfires in Rock Creek and Oliver will be set up to provide programs of support.

Minister of State for Emergency Preparedness Naomi Yamamoto made the announcement Tuesday while visiting wildfire-impacted communities.

“We know this is a difficult and uncertain time for many residents. Our hearts are with those who have had to leave their homes, and especially those who have suffered the terrible loss of losing a home to the fires,” she said. "On top of the Emergency Social Services support the province and partners are providing, we are seeing a tremendous level of resilience.

"Communities are coming together to help one another and agencies are joining in to provide vital support. This is the true co-operative spirit of British Columbians, working together to help each other in a time of need.”

Supported by the Integrated Disaster Council of B.C., the community resilience centre in Midway will help connect residents with support programs offered by agencies like the Canadian Red Cross, Salvation Army, Samaritan’s Purse, Mennonite Disaster Services, Canadian Disaster Animal Response Team and the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

Counselling support through Disaster Psychosocial Services is also provided to help residents and volunteers work through the emotional trauma that a disaster can present.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, Mike Morris, joined Yamamoto on the visit to survey the impacted area and speak with residents and volunteers.

He commended communities that received evacuees for their generosity, selfless and tireless efforts to help those fleeing the fires.

“The people of Rock Creek, Westbridge, Oliver and others affected by these fires must now focus on rebuilding their communities and their homes, which makes this type of relief so important,” he said. “I want to make sure that we do what we can to prevent this from happening again while we also focus on helping the citizens of this region return to normal."

Morris is also conducting a review of fine and penalty structures related to human-caused forest fires.

Meanwhile, the centre is open. General inquiries can be directed to the Kootenay Boundary Regional District’s Emergency Operations Centre at 250 368-9127 or 1-888-747-9119. Affected residents who have lost homes, can contact 250-368-0254.