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Wildfire response: Latest information and resources

Frank Harvey, President and Vice-Chancellor (Acting) - May 29, 2023

This post will be updated with additional information as it is made available related to Dalhousie's response and supports related to the current wildfire situation in Nova Scotia.

Thursday, June 1, 2023

A message to Dal faculty and staff from President and Vice-Chancellor (Acting) Frank Harvey

Significant wildfires continue to burn in Nova Scotia, particularly in Halifax and Shelburne counties. As we offer our sympathies and support to everyone directly affected, we also strongly urge all members of our community to follow precautions and restrictions that have been put in place to keep people safe and ensure first responders can focus their efforts on addressing the situation at hand. More information can be found at novascotia.ca/alerts.

Emergency leave update

On Monday, we shared that Dalhousie was providing five days of emergency leave to any faculty or staff member who is directly impacted by the fires. We recognize these wildfires are having a diverse range of impacts on members of our community, and the days of emergency leave are meant to be flexible and adaptable to a variety of situations that members of our community are facing.

At this point, we expect many people who have been displaced from their homes may not be able to return by Monday. To reflect this, Dalhousie is extending the emergency leave from five to seven days. We will continue to monitor the situation and adjust our approach to employee support as required.

I also want to express Dalhousie’s appreciation and pride in those members of our community who have stepped up to support fighting these fires as volunteer firefighters. The university will continue to provide paid leave to staff members who are engaging as volunteer firefighters.

Support resources

Property loss: With initial assessments of damage slowly taking shape, we know there are members of our Dalhousie community who have had their homes destroyed or significantly damaged in these fires. We offer our deepest sympathies to you during this incredibly difficult time. If you anticipate that you will be experiencing long-term displacement as a result of these fires, please reach out to Accessible Employment at accessible.employment@dal.ca so that we can work with you to develop a personalized support plan during this time.
Accommodations on campus: There continues to be accommodations available in university residences for members of our community who have had to evacuate their homes, and Dalhousie is subsidizing the cost of these rooms for our students, faculty and staff. Individuals can make arrangements to access these accommodations by calling 902-494-8840.
Ways to offer support: Many people have reached out asking how they can offer their support. We encourage those looking to contribute to consider donating to the United Way Halifax Wildfire Recovery Appeal, which will provide financial support to charitable organizations not only in Halifax and surrounding areas, but in Shelburne and impacted communities on the south shore. You can make a donation by visiting the United Way donation page.
Reaching out for help: We recognize that this past week has been extremely challenging on all members of our community — from those who have had to leave their homes to those working through unanticipated school closures or just simply carrying the weight of concern we’re all feeling at the moment. We hope that you are all taking care of yourselves and each other. If you need supports, the LifeWorks Crisis Support Line is open 24/7 and can be reached at 1-844-751-2133. You can also access EFAP services online at http://dal.lifeworks.com. The IWK Health Centre has also provided guidance on how to talk to children and youth about an emergency or traumatic event, which you can find here.

I want to close this update with a note of appreciation to the many faculty and staff at Dalhousie who are working above and beyond to help those who need it during these evacuations. This includes residence staff and the Dal Security team who have been working around the clock to offer, facilitate and support temporary housing on campus. It also includes staff in Student Affairs and Human Resources who are providing direct support to those in need as well as countless other advisors, colleagues and friends from across campus who are reaching out a helping hand. We know many of our colleagues have opened their doors to others and we want to acknowledge your kindness and thank you for stepping up as we knew you would. To everyone who is doing their part: thank you for, once again, showing the best of what Dalhousie is capable of.

Sincerely,

Frank

Frank Harvey
President and Vice-Chancellor (Acting)
Dalhousie University
president@dal.ca

Dalhousie University is located in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq. We are all Treaty people.

We recognize that African Nova Scotians are a distinct people whose histories, legacies and contributions have enriched that part of Mi'kma'ki known as Nova Scotia for over 400 years.

Monday, May 29, 2023

A message to the Dal community from President and Vice-Chancellor (Acting) Frank Harvey

This has been a harrowing 24 hours for many in our community. The wildfires still burning in HRM, as well as in Shelburne County, have upended countless lives, including many of our students, faculty and staff. Some of you have been asked to leave your homes with little warning, while many others have friends, family members or coworkers who have been evacuated from the fire area. It remains unclear how long this situation will last. And when compounded by additional devastating fires across Canada, these are challenging times for so many. On behalf of our entire Dal community, I offer my heartfelt sympathies and our university’s full support to all who have been impacted.

We find ourselves in yet another moment of urgency, where we lean on the support and compassion that defines our university to help those in need. It has been heartening to hear stories of community members stepping up to assist one another through these trying times. Dalhousie is here to help, and several dedicated efforts are underway to ensure those of you who require support have what you need from our university.

Please review the resources below and share with anyone else who may need them.

General info

For the latest on the HRM fire and resources in the community, visit the HRM website.
Individuals in areas close to the fire zone should keep a close watch for emergency alerts from province in the event further evacuations are required. Information on emergency preparedness can be found here.

Housing and accommodations

There continue to be accommodations available in university residences for members of our community who have had to evacuate their homes, and Dalhousie is subsidizing the cost of these rooms for our students, faculty, and staff. Individuals can make arrangements to access these accommodations by calling 902-494-8840.
Students, faculty and staff who are without power are welcome to access shower facilities at Dalplex. Check in with your DalCard at the Dalplex front desk.

Students

Students impacted by current evacuation orders who require non-emergency support in navigating campus or community resources, please contact Hazel Ling, our Student Support Case Manager, at hazel.ling@dal.ca.
Students experiencing academic impacts or requiring academic flexibility due to the current situation should reach out directly to their professors, and/or academic advisors, when you’re able.
We know these will be stressful times for those impacted — please don’t hesitate to reach out to Student Health and Wellness team to book an appointment if it would be helpful to you.

Faculty and staff

The university will be providing five days of emergency leave to any faculty or staff member who is directly impacted by the fires, including anyone who has been evacuated or impacted by evacuations. (Update, June 1: This has now been increased to seven days.) This leave applies to all employee groups and is being provided outside any existing leave banks.
Employees who have been impacted should contact Accessible Employment at accessible.employment@dal.ca for support. Additionally, leaders are encouraged to contact Accessible Employment if you know of any faculty and staff in your unit who have been directly affected. We are looking to develop a consolidated list of all faculty and staff who have been evacuated from their homes or otherwise directly impacted by the fires so that we can ensure we are providing all supports and information we can. Please send an email to accessible.employment@dal.ca with their names, banner# if available, and any information you have on their status.
Dal’s Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) can facilitate a number of supports for affected individuals and can be contacted at 1-800-387-4765 or http://dal.lifeworks.com.
Our EFAP provider has activated the LifeWorks Community Crisis Support Line. This is in addition to support provided through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) help line for eligible employees. The LifeWorks Crisis Support Line is open 24/7 and can be reached at 1-844-751-2133. By calling, individuals will receive professional emotional support and/or referral to community resources. This resource is available to anyone in Canada — please share this information with your communities, family, and friends that may not have access to an EFAP program.

Please continue to look after yourselves and one another and stay safe. Dalhousie is here for you.