Canadian Red Cross opens disaster management centre

The Canadian Red Cross's new emergency management centre in Dartmouth, N.S.officially opened Tuesday, but it's been up and running since last week to support operations in Alberta because of the Fort McMurray wildfires.

"WealwaysseetheRedCrossinaresponse. Whatyouneedtoknowisthatit'sallaboutpreparingtorespond,"said
ConradSauv,presidentandCEOoftheCanadian Red Cross.

The new facility known as the Centre of Excellence in Disaster Managementis an addition to the existing Canadian Red Cross Service Centre in Burnside. It took more than two years to finish the renovation.

Scaled back opening

The centre's technology allows training to happen throughout the Atlantic region, Canada and the around the world. It is also an emergency operations centre.

"This was built as a regional training centre so that we can equip our volunteers to be able to respond."

The opening ceremony was scaled back asthe Canadian Red Cross continues to help people in Alberta.

'Compassion and care'

"Most of the evacuees are with friends and families so the Red Cross, on behalf of the Alberta government, has registered everybody and we have used our call centres throughout the country to keep contact and provide support."

Sauv says as of last week the organization received a total of $50 million in donationsfor Alberta.

"There's a tremendous show of compassion and care by people all around the country."