It was an emotional moment for Krista Louttit as Penticton businesses gathered at LocoLanding Adventure Park Sunday to tally their donations towards Fort McMurray relief efforts.
Louttit moved to the Okanagan two years ago after living in Fort McMurray for some time. She said she felt helpless as 80,000 evacuees were leaving the northern Alberta oil town, her stepdaughter among them.
“You’re glued to the news, non-stop. From the moment it started on Tuesday, my daughter phoned and said we just got an evacuation notice from school, had to come home from school. Half an hour later she said we have to leave, now. She’s almost 15 and she’s just like ‘oh my god,’” Louttit said.
Just over $16,049 was raised with donations still coming in on Monday from over 26 different businesses lending a hand in their own unique ways.
Kettle Valley Tattoo donated proceeds from tattoos to the cause, Elephant Island winery donated from tasting fees and a dollar off of wine bottles and Loco Landing chipped in over $2,000 as well.
“It’s amazing to see the support. To see all the good stories coming from it. People were loading up trucks and driving up with gas to help people that were stranded, but this community has been amazing,” Louttit said.
She has a house there that she rents, which is still standing, however others were less fortunate.
“Everybody is out safe. I’ve got good friends there, some friends have lost everything. I have some friends who still have houses standing,” Louttit said.
Her stepdaughters spent 12 hours on the road after the evacuation, first heading north and getting turned away from shelters due to lack of space. The highway south eventually opened. Now that everyone is out and safe, and the flames begin to calm, the reality of the situation starts setting in.
“As it goes on people are OK, but then you start wrapping your head around other things like how are they going to make mortgage payments because there’s no rent coming in for the mortgage payment, and just all the other stresses start,” Louttit said. “You’ve just got to figure those things out, but in the end everyone got out safe. It’s not really that surprising considering all the skilled people who work up there. It’s Fort Mac, it’s Fort Mac strong, it’s an amazing community to be a part of when you’re up there.”
She is the assistant manager at the Cherry Lane Liquor Store, where all tips from Sunday’s sales and 10 per cent of profits on sales of B.C. craft beer and B.C. wines went towards relief efforts.
“I’m thankful for this community supporting my other community,” Louttit said. “I think Fort Mac has a big connection to the Okanagan because so many people have worked up there or do.”
Penticton businesses stepping up was more a reflex than a reaction.
“Not surprising. At all. But it’s fantastic,” said Diana Stirling, owner of LocoLanding Adventure Park. “We were just the venue, this business community is so generous.”
The funds are headed to the Canadian Red Cross to help with their efforts.