PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. (July 7, 2015) – Anglican Church of Canada
The Anglican Church of Canada announced financial support for the Saskatchewan wildfire relief efforts today. Financial donations will be used to provide care for the more than 12,000 evacuees.
On behalf of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada, the Most Rev. Fred Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, has pledged $5,000 to Diocesan Indigenous Bishop of Missinipi Adam Halkett and to Diocesan Bishop of Saskatchewan Michael Hawkins who are providing on-the-ground support.
The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund has also pledged $15,000 to the Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC). The Anglican Foundation has pledged $5,000 in aid to the Diocese of Saskatchewan.
“The donations are a sign of our love and support for Bishop Michael and Bishop Adam, and all those dear and faithful who are reaching out to those who have been evacuated, “ said Archbishop Fred Hiltz. “This is a very difficult time and we continue to pray for everyone affected by these fires.”
On July 5, Anglicans from Birch Hills and Muskoday Saskatchewan, along with members of the Roman Catholic Church in Birch Hills, fed more than 500 people at an outdoor concert to entertain evacuees and raise funds for PAGC’s support. The PAGC is a tribal council of 12 sovereign First Nations with approximately 30,000 members in northern Saskatchewan.
Both Bishop Hawkins and Bishop Halkett attended the fundraiser. Bishop Halkett, a resident of Montreal Lake Cree Nation, has been active in helping evacuees in Prince Albert by and organizing home-cooked meals and inviting them to a Sunday service at St. Alban’s Cathedral.
“There are a couple ladies who were helping that cooked meals for the elders,” Bishop Halkett said. “[The elders are] not used to restaurant food or fast food, so they’d rather have a traditional meal—traditional meaning wild meat, moose meat, fish.”
At the invitation of Grand Chief Ron Michel, Bishop Hawkins and Bishop Halkett have attended emergency meetings at the PAGC.
“There’s a real sense that people all across the country are with us, and that’s encouraging and a comfort to people to know that they haven’t been forgotten and others are standing with them,” said Bishop Hawkins.
Meghan Kilty
Director of Communications
Anglican Church of Canada
[email protected]
416-843-0539
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