Extending Helping Hands for Flood Relief in Alberta, Canada

By Canadian Relief Team (Originally in English)

Due to heavy rainfall during June 2013, the Canadian province of Alberta experienced the worst flooding in its history. More than 100,000 people were displaced and four lost their lives. Upon receiving evacuation orders, the local people of the affected communities worked together to help each other. Supreme Master Ching Hai requested our Canadian Association members to provide relief, and sent CAD 11,228.17 (US$10,975.33) for reimbursement of expenditures for the relief work, which took place from July 2 through July 8.

Our Association member relief team from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton visited an evacuation center run by the indigenous people, Ĩyãħé Nakoda, in Morley, Alberta. The center, which was using an elementary school building, was serving 300 displaced people at the time. In addition to delivering non-perishable food and needed items such as cleaning supplies and baby diapers, our team displayed Master’s books, and shared vegan recipes and Alternative Living flyers. We were delighted to hear that when school resumed, some of the publications would be made available to the students. In the course of our three-day stay there, we also served three meals to the staff, the evacuees and the volunteers who appeared to enjoy the vegan food immensely. The center’s chef expressed a keen interest in the recipes, and the center’s food coordinator and manager were very grateful for the help.

At an evacuation center operated by another indigenous group, the Siksika Nation, we distributed walkie talkies after learning that the staff and volunteers were in need of a better communication system. Next our team headed to the town of High River, where 13,000 people were ordered to evacuate. Renting a space in a commercial kitchen at preferred rates, our team prepared double-sized sandwiches and went door by door to deliver the vegan meal — along with recipe books and flyers — to the local people, including police officers and firefighters.

Heaven’s blessings and prayers for all those affected by the flooding in Alberta, Canada and all who are coping with severe weather events. May more and more people adopt the compassionate, vegan diet for a calmer and more peaceful world.

Expenditures by Supreme Master Ching Hai
for Flood Relief Work in Alberta, Canada

Throughout the relief work, the relief team members paid a total of CAD 2,834.66 for their transportation, accommodations and food.