BC Liquor Stores accepting donations to help wildfire victims

VANCOUVER – As wildfires continue to destroy property and force residents from their homes in Rock Creek and Oliver, BC Liquor Store customers can now support Red Cross relief efforts for fire victims by donating in stores throughout the province.

To help those impacted by wildfires, the Red Cross asked BC Liquor Stores to join their relief efforts. This includes providing evacuees with immediate needs such as blankets, food and water, reuniting residents with family members, and assisting with longer-term needs such as replacing equipment to return to work and helping with rent.

Starting today, customers can make donations of $2 or $5 – or multiples thereof – at checkouts in 196 BC Liquor Stores provincewide.

BC Liquor Stores customers and employees have supported Red Cross disaster relief for humanitarian crises at home and abroad since 2003, when stores first collected donations to support victims affected by catastrophic wildfires raging that summer in the province.

Coralee Oakes, Minister Responsible for Liquor –

“Our thoughts are with our neighbours in Rock Creek and Oliver who are being devastated by these fires. Families have been separated and many people are seeing their hard-earned homes and businesses destroyed. I applaud the Red Cross, BC Liquor Stores and our fellow British Columbians for coming together to make sure the people impacted by these fires have the support they need to navigate this tragedy and rebuild their lives.”

Blain Lawson, GM & CEO of BC Liquor Distribution Branch –

“With BC Liquor Stores located in communities across the province, we truly consider the people of Rock Creek and Oliver our friends and neighbours. We are proud to support the Red Cross by collecting donations to help in this extremely difficult time.”

Kimberley Nemrava, Red Cross provincial director for B.C. and Yukon –

“This is a tremendously stressful and difficult time for those impacted by the wildfires in the southern interior. Recovering from a disaster is usually a long and expensive journey, so we are very thankful for the support of the BC Liquor Distribution Branch and all its stores and customers who help their neighbours when they’re hit by a disaster.”

Quick Facts:

• Since a fire ignited in Rock Creek on Aug. 14, 2015, hundreds of people in the Rock Creek and Oliver communities have been evacuated – and more than 30 homes destroyed.
• An unusually warm summer has left B.C. forests extremely dry, and officials are concerned there is potential for more aggressive wildfire activity in these communities and others throughout the province.
• As of Aug. 16, 2015, the province has battled more than 1,600 wildfires this year.
• Since 2010, BC Liquor Stores have collected more than $1.9 million for Red Cross disaster relief efforts at home and abroad, including $208,000 earlier this year for Nepal earthquake relief.
• The last time the Red Cross activated a disaster relief fund in B.C. was in 2003, during one of the province’s most devastating wildfire seasons on record.

Media Contact:

April Kemick

Manager of Communications

BC Liquor Distribution Branch

604 252-3034