Not all donations are made equal, but two recent contributions to help Jasperites affected by last year’s wildfire are coming from the same place.
Not literally the same place, of course: The Skal Club of the Canadian Rockies (SCR) is a four-decade-old travel and tourism organization affiliated with a 12,000-member international society. SCR members typically get together over fine food and drink to network in some of the most refined dining rooms in the Rockies.
SkiBound, on the other hand, is a UK-based travel group which brings hundreds of young skiers to the slopes of Marmot Basin to experience the Canadian Rockies each winter.
But the root of their charity is the same: both groups recently facilitated generous donations to help support victims of the July wildfire in Jasper.
On February 12, the Skal Club of the Canadian Rockies presented a cheque worth $40,000 to Christine Richards, co-chair of the Jasper Community Team Society.
And then on February 24, representatives from SkiBound passed along nearly $1,500 to be used to replace fire-destroyed winter gear and sports equipment for two local families who have been identified by Community Outreach Services (COS) staff.
The SkiBound funds were raised by charging students voluntary admission to watch two local hockey teams duke it out at the Jasper Arena this month.
Approximately 350 young people from Skibound cheered on the D’ed Dogs and the Old Blues, two recreational “old timer” teams.
“This is a tangible showing of how these international students are helping out local students,” said Jasper’s Paul Schmidt, who helped facilitate the SkiBound contribution.
The Skal donation is the second big cheque that its black tie-wearing members have sent Jasper’s way. Through silent auctions, raffles and individual and corporate donations, Skal Canadian Rockies is helping Jasper rebuild.
“We know that with the help of our colleagues around the world, in time, Jasper will re-emerge as the world-class destination that we know and love,” said SCR past president, Gord Stermann.
