Forest companies with operations in northern and Interior B.C. are donating $500,000 to the Japanese earthquake relief, which is being matched by the B.C. government for a total of $1 million.
The money will go to the Red Cross, which is providing relief with tents, blankets, food and medical aid.
Canfor president and CEO Jim Shepard said a late-night news program he watched during a recent trip to China highlighted the plight of more than 800 Japanese children orphaned in one community by the earthquake and tsunami.
In particular, the story of one 12-year old girl, being raised by her single mother, illustrated vividly why help is needed, he said Wednesday.
When the tsunami warning went out, the girl's mother ran out of her office, got in her car and headed home to protect her daughter. She drove right into the path of the tsunami and has not been heard from since.
The 12-year-old girl spent the next couple of days using her cell phone to call her mom until the battery died.
"We have to understand, these are people just like us, that were driving a Toyota Highlander a month ago with their family, and the next thing you know, they're living in a gymnasium, there's no home, no Highlander and there's no parents," observed Shepard. "It's a world that has just been wiped out on them."
Canfor, which has a long business relationship in Japan, has and office and employees in Tokyo.
Shepard addressed why they were making the donation in a recent teleconference with the companies' employees.
Canfor Japan Corp. president Jason Nomura was also on the teleconference, giving an on-the-ground description of what it is like for Canfor's Japanese employees, their families, friends and neighbours.
Because the Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s nuclear power plant in Fukushima Dai-ichi is down, the trains and manufacturing plants are operating half time.
The radiation scare also means people are hoarding water and canned goods.
The five B.C. forest companies said they believe that more help is needed now as the situation in Japan remains dire. Hundreds of thousands remain homeless and earthquakes continue to impact the area. The death toll of the March 11 earthquake and ensuing tsunami is expected to reach 25,000.
By matching the forest company donations, the B.C. government's contribution to the Japanese relief effort is now $1 million.
"Premier Christy Clark and our team felt strongly that it was important for British Columbia to further support the millions of Japanese people whose lives have been torn apart by these disasters," said Job, Tourism and Innovation Minister Pat Bell.
The province first provided $500,000 to the Red Cross on March 17.
All B.C. government liquor stores are also collecting donations for the relief effort.
The provincial government says it is also working with the forest industry to
provide reconstruction assistance to Japan once the immediate needs for
emergency aid have been met.
Who is donating
Companies donating $100,000 each include Canfor, Canfor Pulp, West Fraser, Tolko and Interfor. Canfor, Canfor Pulp and West Fraser have extensive operations in northern B.C., including in communities like Prince George, Quesnel, Vanderhoof, Houston and Mackenzie. Tolko also has a mill in Quesnel, but largely its operations and those of Interfor are further south.
Canfor has also put in place a payroll deduction offering to employees, which the company will match.
