May 9th, 2016
Dear Waterloo Region District School Board Students, Parents and Guardians, and Staff: Waterloo Region has a history in supporting a variety of communities and global relief efforts in
situations where significant disaster and traumatic impact has occurred, such as that currently being experienced in Fort McMurray, Alberta. The continuing disaster forced Alberta to call a state of emergency on Wednesday after more than 88,000 people were forced out of their homes in and around Fort McMurray, sending evacuees to surrounding communities for shelter.
The Waterloo Region District School Board is a safe, caring and inclusive community and is working collaboratively with the Federal Government and community partners to ensure a seamless and coordinated support in securing funds that will support disaster relief efforts within the Fort McMurray region.
Parents, students and staff members who wish to donate to the cause may consider donating through the Waterloo Region Education Foundation Inc. (WEFI) at www.wrdsb.ca/wefi between Tuesday, May 10th until Wednesday, June 15th, 2016. The process for making such donations can be located on the attached document or accessed directly on the Board website. Donated funds will be directed by the Waterloo Education Foundation to the Canadian Red Cross, the agency identified by the WRDSB to coordinate the distribution of these funds. The Canadian Federal Government has made a commitment to match all donations that are directed through the Canadian Red Cross.
In the coming days or weeks schools may be organizing fund-raising initiatives to support relief efforts. This is an excellent way for our students to engage in a local and global citizenship initiative. Our generous support of this disaster relief effort will help ease the transition for those individuals and families directly impacted by this unfortunate situations.
Sincerely,
John Bryant, Director of Education