As wildfires continue to burn in and around Kelowna and across the province, I am deeply touched by the outpouring of support and encouragement our community has received from across Canada and around the world.
As of 8:40 a.m. this morning, UBC Okanagan has not suffered any structural damage. For that, we are grateful.
We are also aware that many in our community, both on and off campus, have been evacuated and wait anxiously for news as the situation unfolds. Others have already suffered significant loss.
We are working through this together.
Many people have been asking us how they can help students who have been displaced and distressed by these events. Gifts to the UBC Okanagan Student Emergency Assistance Fund will help provide financial support to these students. Donations can be made here: https://give.ubc.ca/okanagan-student-emergency.
This is undoubtedly going to leave a scar on our community. I have hope that our resilience, which has been tested all too recently, will prevail once more.
We will rebuild. We will learn. Our community will continue to strengthen and support one another in the face of this adversity.
And as part of the community, UBCO will be there every step of the way.
Lesley Cormack
Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, UBC Okanagan
