“You brought hope and love to the community”
MDS Canada closes response in Cape Breton
For Amanda McDougall-Merrill, Mayor of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, volunteers with Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) Canada did more than repair homes damaged by Hurricane Fiona in Cape Breton.
Nova Scotia MLA Fred Tilley (second from left) presents a flag of Nova Scotia to Ross Penner, MDS Canada Executive Director; Ike Epp, Project Director; and Roman Heuft, Cape Breton Response Coordinator.
“You brought hope and love to the community,” she told about 90 people gathered August 24 at the Sydney River United Protestant Church for a closing celebration of MDS’s involvement in the region.
After the storm, which struck on September 24, 2022, people “felt alone and hopeless,” she said.
“You did more than build walls and fix houses. You brought love here,” she said, presenting a plaque to MDS on behalf of herself and Council that expressed appreciation to the volunteers from across Canada who came to “rebuild homes and restore hope.”
Her words were echoed by Fred Tilley, Member of the Nova Scotia Assembly for Northside-Westmount, one of the areas where MDS volunteers served.
“You gave hope to our community when there was none,” he said, presenting a flag of Nova Scotia to representatives from MDS. “You now are in the hearts of thousands of Cape Bretoners,” he added.
A total of 458 volunteers from across Canada provided over 32,000 hours of service for 272 families and community organizations in fall 2022, and then again from March to August this year. This included repairs to 44 houses, 28 new roofs or roof repairs, and 179 tree-cutting and clean up jobs.
Lynne McCarron is Executive Director of the United Way of Cape Breton, MDS Canada’s partner in the region.
“I didn’t know where to go after the storm hit, I didn’t know where to turn,” she said. “I don’t know what we would have done without MDS. We were lucky to have you in our community.”
In his comments, Nova Scotia Response Coordinator Roman Heuft said “many deserve thanks for what has been accomplished here, but most of all God. MDS was here for His glory, not our own.”
Bailey Karrell (right) of the United Way of Cape Breton presents a thank-you gift to volunteer Hannah Cober of Kitchener at the August 24 closing celebration for MDS’s work in Cape Breton. Looking on are Abe and Norma Wiebe from Winkler, Man.
He went on to express appreciation to the volunteers; to the United Way of Cape Breton; to Camp Bretondean and the United Protestant Church of Sydney River, both of which hosted MDS while in Cape Breton; to local building inspectors who “streamlined the building permit process;” to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which provided a grant of $100,000 for the response; and to Air Canada for offering discount airfares to Cape Breton. He also thanked his wife Charlene back in B.C. who “always encouraged me to use my abilities to serve our Lord.”
In closing, he quoted MDS volunteer Peter Thiessen, who served as a project director in Grand Forks, B.C. in 2019.
“MDS is here for a season,” Heuft said, speaking to Cape Bretoners at the celebration. “Our season is now over. We pass the baton to you to carry on the work of helping those in need.”