By admin 
As communities across Northwestern Ontario continue recovering from this summer’s devastating wildfires, I want to thank the many Americans who have reached across the border to help.
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Among the hundreds of Americans who have donated were residents from communities across California.
One supporter from Chico shared a message that reflected both compassion and understanding: “I feel deep empathy and sympathy for our Canadian friends. My thoughts are with everyone affected by the fires, and I’ll contribute to wildfire relief for both our countries as much as I can.”
Those words meant a great deal to us because Californians understand something many people never experience firsthand: wildfire doesn’t simply burn forests. It disrupts lives, scatters families, threatens wildlife and leaves communities facing a long road to recovery.
As of Sunday, northwestern Ontario has 122 active wildfires, the largest of which is Thunder Bay 36 — which is now also the largest wildfire in Ontario’s history.
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In the midst of this fire, we have received messages of support from people across the United States — from Maine to Oregon, and from New York to Florida. Some spoke of Canada’s history of helping Americans during times of crisis. Others simply wanted people they had never met to know they were not alone.
At a time when headlines often emphasize what divides our countries, these acts of kindness tell a different story. They remind us that compassion can travel farther than smoke and that people who understand hardship are often the first to reach out.
On behalf of the people and communities of Northwestern Ontario, I want to say thank you. The generosity of Californians has reminded us that while wildfires may occur on opposite sides of a border, compassion knows no boundaries.
Learn more about the Northwestern Ontario Wildfire Community Support Fund — and consider joining others in supporting wildfire recovery — by visiting the United Way of Thunder Bay website.
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Albert Brulé is CEO of United Way of Thunder Bay, located in Ontario, Canada.