As a Faculty and extended legal community we share the concerns of all Albertans and indeed all Canadians for our fellow Albertans affected by the wildfires in Fort McMurray and the Wood Buffalo region.
We are working with our University of Alberta colleagues to ensure a coordinated response and to offer our assistance and support for our students and those others who are affected in so many ways. We affirm the sentiments expressed by President Turpin last week on behalf of the University, and by Chancellor Ralph Young last Thursday evening. Updates on the University's response can be found at https://www.ualberta.ca/fort-mcmurray.
At the Canadian Council of Law Deans meeting last Friday in Victoria, my fellow Deans expressed their concerns and offered to assist in any ways in which we might find helpful. I've also heard from others across Canada and in the United States. It is in times like these that the greater community comes together.
I encourage you to consider contributing to the Canadian Red Cross and in other ways that might best assist our first responders and others focused on the immediate needs of everyone impacted. We are being careful to ensure that our efforts do not replicate or interfere with the important support being offered, but I wanted to alert you to a few additional efforts we are undertaking, and to offer our assistance to any student, staff, or faculty member who may need our particular Faculty support.
Workspace at Law Centre Available for Displaced Lawyers
In addition to the University's efforts to assist evacuees - approximately 450 are being housed at Lister Centre and St. Joseph's College has taken in several families; evacuees are receiving food, housing, and parking, as well as access to recreation and library facilities - the Faculty and the Alberta Law Reform Institute (ALRI) are offering workspace at the Law Centre to displaced Fort McMurray lawyers and law students. The Canadian Bar Association (CBA) Alberta Branch is coordinating requests for space and will work with the Faculty, ALRI, and the many Alberta law firms that have also offered space to fulfill requests. Fort McMurray lawyers and law students needing workspace are encouraged to contact the CBA Alberta Branch at 780-428-1230 or edmonton2@cba-alberta.org.
Need Help?
To the best of my knowledge, none of our faculty or staff members were in the Wood Buffalo region at the time of the evacuation, but many of you will undoubtedly have family and friends affected. We are following up to ensure that our students from the region are supported. I understand that all nursing, education, ALES and graduate students placed or otherwise in the region are safe.
If there are students from the region who are concerned about summer accommodation, financial support, or employment arrangements, please feel free to contact any of the Student Services staff. We will be making every effort once immediate needs are addressed to work with and assist any student needing support for the academic year ahead. I will be working with the Assistant Dean and with Gloria Strathern to identify emergency financial funding options and special bursary support and will make details available through Student Services or a further announcement.
If staff members need time away from work to assist family and friends who have been significantly affected by the fire, please contact your immediate supervisor to request time off. I encourage supervisors to make all reasonable efforts to accommodate such requests through various options such as adjusting work schedules, allowing employees to take accrued vacation, or authorizing leave without pay.
I would invite any faculty members needing assistance or support to contact me or Vice Dean Moin Yahya directly.
I also encourage anyone needing mental health support during this difficult time to seek assistance. All University staff, faculty members, graduate students and their eligible dependents (covered by the Supplementary Health Care Plan) have access to psychological and emotional supports through the Employee and Family or Graduate Student Assistance Programs. The program can be reached 24/7 by calling 780-428-7587. Undergraduate students can seek support through the University's Counselling & Clinical Services. Law students and their families also have access to specialized resources available through ASSIST. We are available to assist - please reach out if you are in need.
Since this crisis began, there has been a remarkable outpouring of support for our fellow Albertans from across the province, across the country, and indeed from around the world. I'm proud of how quickly our Faculty and University communities have banded together to provide immediate support for our neighbours, and know that there is much to do yet ahead. Please continue to provide what support you can throughout the coming weeks and months. Please also let me know if you have any suggestions for how we as a Faculty can contribute further.
Dean Paul Paton