A Canadian brewery is providing relief to Fort McMurray evacuees by giving them the chance to crack open a cold one — of water, that is.
Labatt Breweries announced Wednesday that it will be donating over 200,000 cans of emergency drinking water for firefighters and victims of the northern Alberta blaze.
The company is immediately donating 69,000 cans, with over 131,000 ready to go out later this week if necessary.
"At our Edmonton brewery and across the country, the people of Labatt are alarmed and deeply concerned by the devastation of the wildfire that has overtaken Fort McMurray. Our priority is to shift into high gear with our Disaster Relief Program and do everything we can to help," said Labatt's vice president of corporate and legal affairs Charlie Angelakos in a release.
Labatt workers prepare flats of canned water as part of the Labatt Disaster Relief Programme. (Photo: Labatt Brewery)
"Labatt is one of Canada's founding businesses and oldest brewers and we're grateful to be able to give back to this country by leveraging our strengths and resources to get safe drinking water to Canadians in need."
This is the fourth time in four years the company has mobilized to bring safe drinking water to Canadians.
In 2013, Labatt made its first donation to help victims of the Alberta flood. It has since brought aid to flood and wildfire victims in B.C., Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
We're grateful to be able to give back to this country by leveraging our strengths and resources to get safe drinking water to Canadians in need."
The donation comes as firefighters work to contain a massive wildfire that has engulfed much of Fort McMurray. As of Friday morning, the fire had consumed over 100,000 hectares of land.
The province of Alberta has activated a state of emergency in response to the situation.
Here are some resources for Fort McMurray evacuees:
- Alberta Red Cross 1 888 350 6070
- Fort McMurray evacuee help on Facebook and Twitter
- Let your friends and family know you're safe with Facebook Safety Check
- Wood Buffalo RCMP 780 788 4000
- @511Alberta on Twitter for road closures and travel advisories
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