CN, CP assisting in wildfire relief efforts

CN and the Canadian Pacific announced on May 5, 2016 that they are contributing a minimum of C$150,000, combined, to help people affected by the devastating wildfires that have swept through Northern Alberta, forcing emergency evacuations of some 80,000 people and destroying thousands of homes and businesses.

CN will make a donation of C$50,000 to the Canadian Red Cross. In addition, CN will match employee donations to wildfire relief up to a total of C$25,000.

“The devastating impact of the wildfires in the Fort McMurray area saddens us all,” said CN Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Jim Vena. “We want to help relief efforts to help address the suffering and loss caused by this disaster. We are encouraging our employees to support their colleagues, customers and neighbors in Northern Alberta, and hope our collective contributions can help provide some of the immediate relief so desperately needed.”

CN is encouraging employees to donate to the relief efforts through the CN Employees’ and Pensioners’ Community Fund.

Canadian Pacific will make a donation of $100,000 to the Canadian Red Cross and match all employee donations to support fire relief efforts in and around Fort McMurray, Alberta. CP said it is also releasing additional resources to support firefighting efforts in the area.

“As an Alberta-based company, CP stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Fort McMurray, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and all affected residents and customers in Northern Alberta as they deal with this catastrophic event,” the railroad said. “To support the ongoing and necessary efforts, CP is encouraging its employees to make a donation to the Canadian Red Cross, which CP will match.”