When news began to spread of the horrific wildfire that was quickly swallowing up the city of Fort McMurray, causing 80,000 people to flee their homes, Chestermere knew it was our turn to step up and ask ‘what can we do?”
As we reported last week, a few different groups in Chestermere organized donation and supply collections, which had trailers and trucks, filled with much needed supplies headed north. Retailers began collecting money at their locations and even some of Chestermeres youngest residents opened lemonade stands to raise money for those impacted by the fire up north.
It soon became evident that something major needed to be done. Something that would raise a significant amount of money and also show the residents of Fort McMurray that Chestermere was here for them.
A group of Chestermeres community builders that have the biggest of hearts came together and decided that it was time to organizer a fundraiser – and what took place in a matter of six days will be something that none of us forget anytime soon.
Malkeet Aheer explained how this all came together. “It all started with me talking to Leela on Thursday when she was in Edmonton after the fires took off. I was saying we just can’t sit by while our brothers and sisters get burned out of their lives and not do nothing. She asked me what I wanted to do and I said send money, send supplies. She said we have to do a fundraiser that way everyone becomes a part of this mission. I agreed. So I started Friday morning thinking I could do this all by myself…. Boy was I wrong.
In a few hours after sheer panic had set in that I was way over my head I talked to Leela and Parveen and to you as well. I was told to bring in our Chestermere family and to see who would help on such short notice. Jed Snatic, Alex Halat, Patrick Watson, Jodi Nouwen were the ones I went hat in hand asking for help. No one said no to me. In fact I was told that they would have been offended if I didn’t allow them to be part of this. It took off from there and Synergy was close behind as well to help. I made a lot of mistakes on the path of getting this done and have learned for the next time but the outcome speaks for itself”.
It was planned that on Friday May 13th, 2016, a family BBQ to raise money for those impacted by the wildfire in Fort McMurray would take place at the Chestermere Recreation Centre. There was no idea has to how many people would attend or how much money would be raised…..but Chestermere….you knocked it out of the park!
With the positive power of social media, the call went out for silent auction items, volunteers and the invitation to come out and take part in this heartwarming event. Silent auction items began pouring into the MLA office, phones and emails were blowing up with people offering their time and services for the event. The true spirit of Chestermere came shining through.
Patrick Watson, of the Knights of Columbus said “When Malkeet told me about their plans to do this, I offered the Knights of Columbus BBQ for the dinner. I was also asked if I could find a few guys to cook. Then came another request for two of the Knights to work at the Red Cross tent. A few phone calls and done! Pat Herchac and Greg Doucette volunteered to sit at the tent. Another one of our members offered to help me at the BBQ and our Knights of Columbus council pledged $1000 to go to support those impacted by the Fort Mac fire”.
As that Friday quickly came, decorations went up, bouncy castles inflated and the only mystery left was how it would all turn out. What happened next left event organizers and event goers speechless and emotional.
Over 1200 people attended the event, there were over 200 volunteers, over 100 silent auction items and although the final tally of funds raised isn’t yet know, we do know that over $25,000 was raised!!
The event had everything from food, to face painters, bouncy castles and live music but the biggest thing this event had… was heart! It didn’t matter how long you lived here, what groups or organizations you belong to, or what political platform you stand for…. It was simply about one community giving to another.
Organizers and volunteers heard amazing comments from those that attended. Things like:
“Thank you for reminding me why I still live here” and “These are the pillars in our community – not the haters”. People began sharing their stories of struggles with each other and comments like “It was the best time our family has had out since my husband lost his job”.
Mayor Patricia Matthews said, “It was so heart-warming to see so many of our community members come out to contribute to the Fort Mac fundraiser held at the Rec Centre on Friday. The seriously dedicated volunteers did a wonderful job of pulling everything together and creating a lot of fun and good food. Our hats off to the organizers who will help so many people affected by this disaster!”
A very special thank you goes out to the following donors, sponsors and volunteers this event:
Aileen Parungo
Ainsley Elliott
Air Liquide Canada – Matthew German
Akesh Aheer
Al & Parvin – Waiting Room Cafe
Aleesha Gosling – Newsy Neighbor
Alex Desplanque
Alicea Sproule
Allan Maillot, Jared Maillot & Jamie MacDonald with First General Services Calgary
Amy Side – Fun Works Studio
Andrea Golden
Annette Shears
Anonymous (Bearspaw Lifestyle Centre)
Art Lust
Art Miles
Bardown Mechanical
Barry Bhalla
Best Western Chestermere
Betty & Brad Illingworth
Betty Stewart
Bev LaPeare
Bill and Gail Fraser
Bill Hunter of Walter Surface Technologies
Bonnie Harvey – Inner Focus Yoga
Bryan Cuilliton
Bryant Johnson
Calgary Yacht Club
Camp Chestermere
Carey Swift
Caribbean Sun
Carter Johnson
Cathy Heggs
Chad Pallesen
Chestermere Agricultural Society
Chestermere Anchor
Chestermere Fire Department
Chestermere High School- Jordan Fenton
Chestermere Langdon Oilmen’s Association – Alex Halat
Chestermere Recreational Center- Jodi Nouwen and Jocelyn Babin and all STAFF
Chestermere Regional Community Association
Chestermere Station Dentistry
Chestermere Station Starbucks
Chestermere The Landing Dock Side Bar and Grill- John & Helen Kittler
Chestermere Veterinary Clinic
Chris Steeves
Christy Redyl
City of Chestermere
Classic Towing
Cody Battershill of I Love the Oil Sands
Cole Young
Connor Weicht
Coralee McIntosh
Costco Wholesale – Jim Creasey
Crossfit Moirai – Carey Swift & Kyler Bateman
Danielle Wilson
Darlene Tuck
Daryl Smith of Katanik Excavating
Denise Gottwald
Donna Jopling
Dr. Levi Lowry at ConfiDental
Dr. Shannon Farnel
Ducks Unlimited
Ellen Lorne
Emilie Young
Emily Janzen – Body Shop
Emily Moore
Emily Steeves
Epoch Imports – Todd Buhler
Ernie Mobile Barbecue
Evonna Berceir – SaBer Contracting
Fun Works Studio
Gillian Parmar
Greatwest Kenworth Ltd.
Heather Miller
Henry White
Holly Wood
Ian Matthews
Inertia Environmental
Itzel Sanchez
Janine Wahl
Jay Bruchet
Jeff Runciman
Jess Reimond
Jessie Stagg
Jim and Lisa Chocholik – la chik
Jocelyn Babin Chestermere rec Centre
Jodee Bilinski
Joey’s Urban
John Aaron
John Carto
Julie Rintoul & Larix Resources LTD
Jusmeen Hansra
Karen Gonzales
Keelan Alore
Kelly Weisner (Hair by Kelly)
Kim Horvath
Kim Lester
Knights of Columbus
Kreations by Kelly – Kelly Wiesner
Krista Mainprize
Lakeshore Spa
Leela Sharon Aheer, MLA
Lesley Bergen
Levi Lowry – Confi-Dental
Lifepath Wellness Centre – Jed Snatic
Lina Bardon
Linda Price
Lisa Willis
Loni Minhas
Lori Skehar
Lou Doron
Luna Hair
Magnum Cementing Services Operations Ltd.
Marc Gottwald and Denise Roussel
Marjorie & Doug McKay
Marla Christianson
Marnie Pallesen – Pretty in Skin
Matt Juristy
Maya Milan
Mayor Patricia Matthews
Merlyn Ted Patrick
Michelle Young
MJ’s Water Hauling Co. Ltd.
Muzza Khurram
Myra Lopez
Narmail Singh
Natalie Miller
Natasha Haseloh
Neva Popoff
Newsco International Energy Services Inc.
Nicole and Kelsey Johnson
Nicole Brooks
Niki Tanner Still – F45
Nina Cubrillo
No Frills- Eric
Noa Halat
Noell Duffy
NoraLea Johnson
Olivia Steeves
Paige Skrypnek
Patrick Watson
Paul Mangat
Paul Ryneveld and Century Downs
Peggy Frunchak
Peter Tindall
Pink Polka Dots
Pure Country Meats
Purelight Wellness
Randy Penner- Event Industries
Rayyan Khurram
Rebecca Cowan
Rebecca Tomasir – Remax
Refresh Esthetics – Parveen Aheer-German
Revolve Industries Inc.
RimRock Landscaping
Robyn Berg
Ryan and Michell Kotylak
S.E. Johnson
Sahaj Mangat
Saima Bashir
Sandy Johal
Sarah Moore
Sarah Pascoli
Sehran Aheer
Shane Poyser
Shanna Wagner
Shannon Storey
Shantelle Lavallee
Sharon Elliott
Sharon Schacher
Shaw TV – Judy Barrette
Shelby Weicht
Shelley Berg
Sherry Brand
Shiya Mangat
Soni Mangat
Sonia DeSouza
Sonia Maciel
Star Valley Group of Companies
Steven Burness
Sunjay Manhas
Synergy
Terri Finnegan
The Motor Company Inc.
Tia Graham
Tim Hortons – Andrew Marriott
Todd Buhler-Epoch Imports
Tracy Weicht
Tricia Doucette
Tyler Norman
Unland
Val Yanke
Vedran and Rebecca Tomasir – Administration for I love Chestermere
Vicki Klinger chestermere rec centre
Vicki Welsh
Wes Alore
West Creek Auto Wash – Malkeet Aheer
Western Canada Heat Exchanger Ltd. (WCHE)
WestJet
Wise & Company Professional Accountants
Woodridge Ford – Gerry Wood
Zara Pallesen
And to the hundreds of volunteers…. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
There is one quote by Helen Keller that sums this event up perfectly: “Alone we can do so little; Together we can do so much”.
Thank you Chestermere!
