Alert Bay - The Namgis Health Centre in conjunction with the Cormorant Island Emergency Management hosted a dinner to recognize those who generously volunteered during the emergency flood evacuation from Kingcome Inlet Sept. 25.
Alert Bay became a host evacuation community for several weeks as displaced families waited for flood waters to recede and houses to dry out and be repaired.
T'tisalagi'lakw School gym was filled with volunteers, family and friends gathered together to support the acheivement of one another.
Shannon Alfred of Emergency Social Services (ESS), along with Chief Bill Cranmer, Mayor Michael Berry and the ESS team welcomed, thanked and gave to each volunteer a certificate of appreciation. Many generous, hard working individuals came forward to be recognized for their efforts.
Everyone played a different role in the rescue and were recognized as equally important. Two of the many volunteers were Donna and Norman Stauffer. Together the Stauffers dedicated weeks of meal preparation and cooking to the evacuated families. Alert Bay volunteers are the reason why the Cormorant Island emergency response plan was a success, said organizers. '
Prizes for emergency preparedness kits were drawn and two presentations about ESS and the Aboriginal Suicide and Critical Incident Response Team (ASCIRT) were also made during the event to educate the public and encourage people to volunteer.