2. Helping people to
liveindependently
Canadian Red Cross staff and
volunteers work together to deliver
community programs designed to
enhance the quality of life for Ontario’s
most vulnerable populations. The
services provided by the Red Cross meet
an important need in the community
and in many cases allow people to
remain living independently.
Last fall, the Canadian Red Cross
received accredited status from
Accreditation Canada for all of its
community support services programs
across Ontario. All of the surveyors from
Accreditation Canada were unanimous
in expressing how well the Red Cross
is engaged with its communities and is
working hard to meet those needs with
innovative programs.
Ahelping
handtowards
independence
For people who require the use of assistive
devices for only a short period of time,the
Health Equipment Loan Program (HELP)
offered by the Canadian Red Cross alleviates
the financial burden that often comes along
with injury or illness by offering rental health
equipment for only the time they will need
it.The program not only helps to reduce the
number of items sent to the landfill,but
also provides affordable assistive devices
to clients who need them.Last year,10,316
piece of health equipment were loaned
across Ontario.
Due to its strong foundation of quality
service in health equipment loans,the Red
Cross was chosen by the Ministry of Health
and Long-Term Care to operate a Wheelchair
Recycling Program.As a result of this
partnership,more than 1,270 wheelchairs
have been donated in Ontario to date.
When weather
wreaks havoc, the
RedCrossresponds
Across Canada and around the world,
the past year brought many significant
weather-related disasters. Spring rains
and rapidly melting snow led to flooding
in central, eastern and northwestern
Ontario and along the James Bay
coast. Many communities declared a
state of emergency and the Red Cross
was involved in managing reception
centres, coordinating clean up efforts
and distributing clean-up kits, and
conducting recovery assessments.
For the communities who evacuated
residents, the Red Cross provided
registration and personal services to
ensure all needs were met. By the time
residents returned home, 159 Red Cross
volunteers had been engaged in the
response, assisting 1,955 evacuees.
In December, an intense winter storm
resulted in more than 600,000 people
losing hydro. The Canadian Red Cross
moved quickly to offer assistance,
opening 30 warming centres and
shelters in 15 communities providing
personal items, meals and a warm, safe
place to stay. More than 380 Red Cross
staff and volunteers gave over 9,000
hours of their time.
Championingthe
importanceof
firstaid
Canadians healthy by preventing
injuries before they happen has been a
priority for the Canadian Red Cross for
more than 50 years. Recently, the Red
Cross became the number one provider
of first aid in Canada, training more than
225,444 Ontarians last year alone.
In northern Ontario, the Red Cross
satellite office in Moose Cree First
Nation provided first aid training to 38
community members this past year.
Training in these communities is of
particular importance since research
has shown they are more vulnerable to
injury, natural disasters, family violence
and suicide.
Helping beyond
our borders
Last year, the efforts of Red Cross
disaster management staff and
volunteers extended far beyond Ontario.
When catastrophic flooding in Alberta in
June resulted in evacuation orders for
100,000 people, personnel from across
the country responded, with 38 per cent
of responders deploying from Ontario.
The Alberta floods were later deemed
the largest domestic disaster response
in the history of the Canadian Red
Cross. In addition to being on the ground
in Alberta, Ontario staff and volunteers
also provided support to the National
Disaster Coordination Team in Ottawa
and helped manage a call centre for
registration and inquiries.
When Typhoon Haiyan brought
widespread flooding and destruction
to the Philippines last November,
thousands of homes were destroyed
and approximately four million people
displaced. It was one of the strongest
storms ever to make landfall. Red
Cross and Red Crescent Societies from
around the world stepped up to provide
assistance. Within days, the Canadian
Red Cross deployed its Emergency
Response Unit mobile field hospital. It
was staffed with delegates from across
Canada, including several from Ontario,
who provided critical life-saving health
services in Ormoc, one of the hardest-
hit areas
Helping us
help others
During times of emergency and disaster,
Canadians often turn to the Red Cross
to offer financial support for both relief
and recovery for those affected. In the
weeks following the 2013 Alberta flood,
$35 million was raised, enabling the Red
Cross to provide food, clothing, medical
equipment and supplies, occupational
support and other necessities for more
than 6,000 families.
When Typhoon Haiyan struck the
Philippines in November 2013, the
Canadian Red Cross launched an appeal
for funds immediately and Canadians
donated almost $43 million – of which
nearly $17 million came from Ontario.
In addition to fundraising for disaster
relief, the Canadian Red Cross also
relies on the support of donors to
provide many of its programs and
services. This support comes from
individual donors, corporate partners,
legacy gifts and groups who work to
fundraise on behalf of the Red Cross.
Accountability is a priority and the Red
Cross is committed to ensuring all funds
are used for their intended purpose.
Visit www.redcross.ca/ontario
to read the complete annual review of what
the Red Cross has accomplished in Ontario
over the last year.
