Red Cross, RBC Financial Group and Magna International unveil
plans for unique community centre/shelter in Louisiana
(TORONTO, April 5, 2006) The Canadian Red Cross and
two of its corporate partners, RBC Financial Group and Magna
International, unveiled plans today for a unique new community
centre to be built in the heart of hurricane-ravaged Louisiana.
Situated in the town of Simmesport, this new centre will serve
as a gathering place for several local communities, including
nearby Canadaville. What sets this building apart is state-of-the-art
design and technology that will allow it to be quickly and
easily converted into a large community evacuation shelter
in case of future disasters.
The Canadian Red Cross will dedicate $2 million to the project.
Red Cross corporate partners Magna International Inc. and
RBC Financial Group are supporting the initiative with donations
of $1-million and $250,000 respectively.
“When Hurricane Katrina struck the U.S. Gulf coast in
August of 2005, it left a path of unsurpassed destruction
in its wake,” says Dr. Pierre Duplessis, Secretary General
of the Canadian Red Cross. “Thanks to the generosity
of Canadians, the Canadian Red Cross was able provide urgently
needed emergency relief. Now we are helping communities to
rebuild. This new centre will serve both the current needs
of Canadaville and Simmesport, and will help to ensure that
they are better prepared for future emergencies. “
“Natural disasters always give us something to think
about,” says Mr. Frank Stronach, Chairman of the Board
of Magna International Inc. “We tend to take things for
granted. Most of the time this unique building will host social
gatherings, sporting events, and perhaps even Red Cross volunteer
meetings. But in the event of another natural disaster, the
centre will be a safe haven, providing people with the basic
necessities.”
The new dual-purpose building will be approximately 20,000
square feet in size. In an emergency, the large, central hall
will provide sleeping space for up 300 evacuees, and the high
capacity commercial kitchen will provide meals for up to 2500
people. Washrooms and showers have also been designed to handle
high capacity use, and a separate medical room will offer
privacy to those requiring additional care. Key features such
as the kitchen and washrooms can be easily reached from both
inside and outside the building, allowing evacuees who may
be housed in other, nearby shelters easy access to the facilities.
The building will be constructed to withstand higher winds,
and will have its own emergency generator.
“We believe that corporations have a responsibility
to step up to the plate in times of need, both at home and
abroad says Mr. Charles Coffey, Executive Vice President,
Government Affairs and Business Development for RBC Financial
Group. “This is just one of the many initiatives supported
by the Red Cross family to help respond to the needs of our
southern neighbours,” continues Mr. Coffey. “But
this project stands out for its creativity and responsiveness
to the needs of the local community.
RBC is proud to support Louisiana’s unique Canadaville
community and evacuation centre.”
“This is an excellent example of what can be accomplished
when corporations like Magna and RBC join forces with organizations
like the Red Cross to meet the challenge of the disasters
of tomorrow,” says Leanne Murphy, of the American Red
Cross. “Partnerships like this are truly in the spirit
of responding to those in need when they cannot help themselves.
“We know that it is not a matter of IF there will be
more disasters of this kind in the future,” concludes
Dr. Duplessis. “It is a question of where, and when.
With the help of generous Canadians and Canadian corporations,
we hope to help communities across the United States and Canada
to be better prepared.”
The Canadian Red Cross is a member of the International Red
Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which includes the International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International
Committee of the Red Cross and 183 national Red Cross and
Red Crescent Societies. The Canadian Red Cross mission is
to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the
power of humanity in Canada and around the world.
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For more information please contact:
Alice Bradbury d'Anjou
A/Manager, Media Relations
Canadian Red Cross
Tel: (613) 740-1928
Cell: (613) 222-6196
Dan Donovan
VP Public Affairs
Magna International Inc.
Tel: (905) 726-7182
Beja Rodeck
Director,
Media & Public Relations
Tel: (416) 974-5506
Cel: (416) 616-5918
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