Recognizing Nelson's Contributions to Haiti

To acknowledge the inspirational volunteer work being done by Nelson residents as they help to rebuild Haiti from the massive earthquake last january, MLA Mungall made a statement in the Legislature.

Read below or watch online at: Haiti Earthquake Relief - M. Mungall, MLA - March 30, 2010

M. Mungall: Well, 45 minutes after arriving in a community just west of Port-au-Prince on January 12, 2010, three teachers and 17 students from Mount Sentinel School along with four volunteers from Kootenay Christian fellowship, including my neighbour Jim Reimer, were shaken out of their hostel. They were at the epicentre of the 7.0 earthquake that has rocked Haiti to the ground.

As they ran into the street, they left behind $10,000 of raised funds for community supports. Amidst the chaos, that money was stolen. However, the high school students still had the money in their pockets, and it was with both this money and their spirit that the Nelson region began its direct role in rebuilding a devastated Haiti. The students pooled their pocket money to buy rice so that they could give it to those who had nothing. Days later all 17 students arrived home safely.

Three other Nelson residents were caught in the quake, and they, too, survived to then turn around and help many of the injured people in Port-au-Prince. Since January several locals have journeyed to Jacmel, including two midwives and a local paramedic, Alon Gelcer. They are building and operating a clinic for women and children. And today another two Nelson residents are in Haiti contributing their medical skills to the national university hospital.

This one particularly hits home for me because one of these residents sits across the kitchen table from me. Over the next two weeks my partner, Zak Matieschyn, is joining Dr. Joel Kailia in Haiti's busiest emergency room. Although the earthquake has left the headlines, the need and the devastation remain.

And you can be sure that where there is a need, there is definitely a Nelsonite.