WinSport barbecue adds thousands of dollars to relief fund for fellow Albertans in crisis
Canadian speed skating Olympic gold medallists Catriona Le May Doan and Denny Morrison joined a line of WinSport staff outside the Markin MacPhail Centre on May 6 to serve hamburgers and raise funds for families victimized by the Fort McMurray wildfires.
For Morrison, the opportunity to help serve the community in this way is important. Just last year, Morrison broke a femur in a motorcycle accident, and on April 23 of this year, suffered a stroke.
According to Morrison, the support of others has “made a big difference” in his recovery. When he asked his supporters how he could repay them, they simply said to “pay it forward instead.”
Events like this barbecue are just one small way he can pay forward the kindness and support he’s received while he recovers.
Other officials noted, on May 6, that the wildfire was moving northeast, away from Fort McMurray, but the crisis was not yet over, because of the unpredictability of wildfires, and the massive size of this one in particular.
Jason McKay, WinSport’s director of food and beverage/sales, said his life was changed after helping WinSport welcome over 500 people into its facilities during the southern Alberta floods of 2013. When he heard about the wildfires, he was determined to find a way to help Fort McMurray residents through their own struggle. WinSport, also known as the Winter Sports Institute, is located on the western edge of Calgary, at Canada Olympic Park.
“Every dollar helps,” McKay said. “If 50 people show up to support the event, it would be enough.”
Volunteers, supporters and community members joined Morrison, Le May Doan, the Speed Skating Canada team and WinSport staff in the long line up for barbecue grub. In less than two hours, over 300 burgers were sold and more than $4,300 was raised.
WinSport covered the cost of the barbecue, which means 100 per cent of the $4,300 will go directly to the Red Cross in support of the Fort McMurray wildfire relief effort.
Red Cross Canada is accepting donations online or by phone, with all individual donations being matched by the federal government.
Call toll-free 1-800-418-1111 or visit www.redcross.ca/fort-mcmurray-fires for more information.
The editor responsible for this article is Michaela Ritchie, mritchie@cjournal.ca