APRIL 8, 2020
News Advertiser PAGE 9
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Lakeland MP and Staff Work to Help Bring Canadians Home Michelle Pinon News Advertiser There are many Canadians that are stranded outside of Canada. Lakeland MP Shannon Stubbs took to Facebook March 20 to talk about COVID-19 and how it has put us all in uncharted territory. Stubbs talked about her staff in Two Hills who are working around the clock to help constituents. “These are the women, Tina (Warawa) and Juanita (Brunet), who work nonstop with steadfast dedication, compassion, perseverance and often with their own creativity and thinking of ways things have never been done before, and their sheer relentless will, to help you, and to help me to advocate for you. “And that reality has never been more true, and their efforts have never been
more important, than today, the last couple of days, and the days ahead. These women are spending hour after hour comforting worried and scared relatives and friends, who yell and cry on the phone, about people stuck around the world and running out of time to get home, and along with new staff member Kyle in Ottawa, are going above and beyond contacting federal offices and agencies, and even airlines themselves, to help people in Lakeland and elsewhere in Alberta.” Stubbs said they are hearing from people across the riding, which includes 52 municipalities and nine Indigenous communities. They, (staff), are hearing from workers and contractors, parents, students, seniors, first responders, health care workers, farmers, truckers. “They themselves have been booking
flights to get their family members home on time and dealing with family members immediately laid off, senior at-risk relatives they are caring for, and out of work and out of school kids in their own lives, in the last 72 hours.” Stubbs added that staff had worked 10-12 hours a day, receiving on average 120 emails a day so for the past week. As to phone calls, staff fielded an average of 20 per day and worked on a minimum of 30 stranded Canadian files. Stubbs also asked for a favour from people, to thank her staff and say a few kind words. “They need it, and it will mean more to them than you can know, while they take care of everyone else, and me, so I can work for you, too.” Tina Warawa said only Canadians are able to come in on international flights and the government-mandated that
those flights would only go to four airports. “Many other countries have shut down all incoming and outgoing flights. We have been on the phone with those impacted as well as constant calls to the airlines, and Global affairs. In some cases, we have had to work with embassies between countries to find the safest place for those that wait. All Canadians abroad need to register on the registry. That is the only way for Canada to know how many people are out there. Most flights are shut now or close to final days of service and will only be doing extrication flights set up by the government after that point. The registry is travel.gc.ca/travelling/registration. They also need to send email to sos@ international.gc.ca if there is an emergent need.”
Crisis Association of Vegreville Donates Funds Michelle Pinon News Advertiser In times of uncertainty, that’s when the Crisis Association of Vegreville steps in to assist people in need. Most recently, the association decided to give back to the community by donating $5,000 to the Vegreville Food Bank and $1,000 to the Prairie Tails Animal Rescue to assist those organizations during the COVID-10 pandemic. Joanna Karczmarek, Coordinator of the Vegreville Food Bank Society, said, “The huge donation we received from
the Crisis Association will help us to purchase additional groceries should demand increase. It will also help us replenish our sanitation supplies when they become available. We do anticipate an increase in clients as individuals who are in need wait to receive financial assistance.” Connie Brown, with Prairie Tails Animal Rescue, stated, “We are extremely grateful for this donation and will be such a big help in ensuring our rescue animals are well cared for during these uncertain times.
Emily Downey, a board member with the Crisis Association of Vegreville, (left), presents a cheque for $5,000 to Kaelyn Bodnarchuk, Treasurer of the Vegreville Food Bank. (Submitted/photo)
We are using the donation to purchase dog and cat food, and supplies that typically would be donated. As people are needing to watch their funds closely, donations will slow down if not come to a halt. Adoptions are also expected to slow down as well which means these animals remain in our care longer, in turn, increases our
demand for food and other supplies. We are extremely grateful for this donation and will be such a big help in ensuring our rescue animals are well cared for during these uncertain times.” The Crisis Association of Vegreville operates a 24-hour helpline for people in need.
