Iqaluit, Nunavut (August 23, 2023) – The Government of Nunavut has committed to donating $250,000 to the United Way Northwest Territories (NWT) Emergency Response Fund to support residents impacted by wildfire.
Thousands of NWT residents have been ordered to evacuate due to the threat of nearby wildfires, and the danger has not yet passed. To assist all those who have been and continue to be affected and displaced, these funds will be disbursed to residents and to various organizations providing supports and resources for evacuated residents.
The Territorial Emergency Management Organization is working with affected and at-risk communities and continues to receive reports from all regions. The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) continues to collaborate with federal, community and Indigenous governments to support and assist in managing the emergency response.
The United Way is an organization that receives donations from various sources then distributes funding to other organizations involved in responding to these events. This donation provides additional assistance to communities in need, beyond the current resources that are already being directly deployed to disaster relief.
Quotes
"Extraordinary emergency efforts continue to be needed to support the evacuation of so many residents of the Northwest Territories and the Government of Nunavut is grateful it can contribute $250,000 to United Way NWT. These funds will go toward the work of organizations that are directly welcoming and helping the many thousands of evacuees fleeing the NWT wildfires, including relatives and loved ones of Nunavummiut.”
- P.J. Akeeagok, Premier of Nunavut
“The United Way NWT’s support for communities across the territory has been crucial during this wildfire season and on many other occasions. The Government of Nunavut’s donation will allow United Way NWT to continue redistributing funds during this difficult time, and I would like to thank Premier Akeeagok and his government for their incredible generosity.”
- Caroline Cochrane, Premier of the NWT
“Northerners always show up for other Northerners, and this is an amazing and timely example of that. We’ve distributed over $750,000 to organizations supporting evacuees throughout this fire season. That’s only possible because of generous donations like this one from the Government of Nunavut. This significant donation will go a long way in responding to the deluge of requests that we’ve been receiving from organizations looking for help to support evacuees.”
- David Connelly, Chair of the United Way NWT Emergency Response Committee
Quick Facts
This is the Government of Nunavut’s second donation to United Way NWT in 2023, the first being $25,000 in support of wildfire evacuees from Hay River and Kátł’odeeche First Nation.
Anyone wishing to donate to the NWT Fire Response can do so here: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/82499?v2=true.
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