SaskPower, Red Cross unite to improve disaster response efforts

SaskPower Red Cross Partnership empowers employee volunteers in Saskatchewan with disaster management training, emergency response skills, and donation options, supporting food, shelter, and clothing relief through local orientation sessions in Regina, Saskatoon, and Prince Albert.

SaskPower, Saskatchewan's electrical utility, and the Canadian Red Cross have signed an agreement that will see SaskPower employees trained and deployed during future provincial emergencies around the province.

"Many of our employees are already involved with their communities, and, much like a safety plan embraced elsewhere, this takes things a step further," said SaskPower President and CEO Robert Watson.

Under the agreement, SaskPower will fund Disaster Management Training, aligning with future of work priorities in the electricity sector, for up to 20 of its employees each year. Those employees will then be called on during times of disaster response in the province.

Volunteer opportunities will also be made available to SaskPower employees who do not wish to take the full Disaster Management Training program, but would like to volunteer from time to time. Finally, a Red Cross online donation web portal will be made available to employees to make donations at any time.

"Red Cross is looking forward to training SaskPower volunteers through initiatives akin to a work-study program that builds capacity to help Red Cross respond when disasters strike in Saskatchewan," said Canadian Red Cross Provincial Director Cindy Fuchs. "[SaskPower and] Red Cross is able to work closely with local authorities and agencies to provide emergency services such as food, shelter, clothing and longer term assistance to those affected."

SaskPower has operations in 71 communities around the province, making employees readily available across a wide range of locations even as the power sector faces a labour shortage across Canada.

The Red Cross and SaskPower will hold orientation sessions in Regina, Saskatoon, and Prince Albert later this fall to provide employees with more details and registration opportunities, underscoring the sector's progress toward record lows in occupational injuries through preparedness.

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