Industry Cooperation needed for response to Fort McMurray Wildfires

Vancouver, BC – On Side Restoration Services Ltd. is developing a plan to respond to the situation in Fort McMurray and the company would also like to assist with a larger mobilization of cross-industry personnel. Given the sheer scale of the Fort McMurray Wildfire event, and the pending need to get as many skilled resources on the ground as is possible, the community would strongly benefit by a cooperative approach to help bring in as many resources as possible.

In reality, many companies in eastern and western Canada have been experiencing below normal claims levels. As a result, many companies may have been forced to reduce hours for experienced staff. Now with the Fort McMurray wildfires the dilemma facing these companies now is: do we send our already scarce resources north to help? Can we afford to give up these valuable and limited resources such as Management, Project Managers and Field staff?

Although responding to Fort McMurray’s needs may mean increased revenue in the short-term, it could also mean falling behind with their home market needs. Failure to serve this core business could have long-term and lasting negative impact on the enterprise.

For organizations that want to participate in the Fort McMurray response, but don’t currently have the capacity to release ‘teams’ of people, On Side Restoration is proposing to provide temporary employment for these company’s under-employed and available staff for work in Fort McMurray. There is potential for significant work with considerable overtime during the response effort.

In return, On Side would offer compensation for referring or loaning these workers. Further, On Side would enter a non-solicitation agreement with your company where On Side would agree to not hire these employees after the Fort McMurray assignment was complete. On Side would also inform clients of the resource source to ensure the various restoration companies would receive recognition for their efforts in the response.

With this arrangement, On Side would receive access to skilled field resources that support a broader coordinated industry response. Resources needed are field supervisors, carpenters, water technicians, contents and cleaning, as well as skilled restoration labour. The companies providing resources will be recognized for helping respond to this unprecedented disaster while still being able to retain their focus on their home market. Under-utilized or available resources can be fully utilized which can help staff retention, without risk of competitor recruitment.

On Side Restoration sees this as a positive and plausible coordinated effort and the company asks for your input on how to make this program work. Interested companies or parties should contact Samantha Barton with On Side Restoration.

CONTACT: Samantha Barton, On Side Restoration Services Ltd. sbarton@onside.ca or 888-663-6604

About On Side Restoration. On Side Restoration Services is one of Canada’s leading, privately-owned restoration companies. Since 1979 On Side has been restoring damaged homes and businesses 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Proprietary internal systems include eClaim, a transparent web-based file management software program, and On Side LiVE, their 24 hour, customizable emergency call centre. The company operates 21 branches coast to coast from Victoria, BC to St. John’s, Newfoundland. On Side has over 300 emergency response vehicles, 700 experienced and certified staff members, and 5,000+ pieces of specialty equipment. Further information about the company can be found at www.onside.ca