Cobourg council endorses ‘10 for 10 campaign’ to support displaced victims of wildfires in northwestern Ontario
- Jul 31
- 2 min read
Participants make 10 calls over 10 days, ask each person to contribute at least $10
By Natalie Hamilton
Residents of Cobourg can help people who have been displaced by the ongoing wildfires in northwestern Ontario by participating in a local “10 for 10 campaign.”
At its recent summer meeting of council, Town of Cobourg council passed a motion to endorse a fundraising campaign to support residents of both Whitesand First Nation and the community of Armstrong, which is 250 kilometres north of Thunder Bay.
Men, women and families were evacuated on July 13 because of the forest fires and placed in hotels in Thunder Bay with only what they could carry, noted the town, in a news release. The full impact on their homes and community remains unknown.
Town of Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland said during the July 22 council meeting that the initiative was a tangible way Cobourg could help neighbours in need.
“You call 10 people over 10 days and you ask for $10,” he explained.
“It’s a real simple campaign because if everyone does it – if you have 500 people, each call someone for 10 days and ask for $10 – that’s $50,000.”
The mayor said the response from the community since Cobourg passed the motion has been “outstanding.”
“Cobourg business owners, service clubs, and residents are stepping up. This is exactly what 10 for 10 is about – small, manageable acts of generosity that add up to real support for families from Whitesand First Nation and neighbouring communities,” he shared in a statement.
As mentioned, participants make 10 calls over 10 days and ask each person to contribute at least $10. Ten dollars is the suggested minimum, not the maximum, and those able to give more may do so.
Cobourg welcomes individuals, businesses, charities and community organizations to participate.
All donations collected through the Town of Cobourg will be forwarded to an agency assisting the families and individuals in need, noted town officials.
There are a few different ways to donate:
Cheques: Payable to “Town of Cobourg 10 for 10 campaign” -- or cash can be handed over in-person to the finance department at Victoria Hall. Cheques can also be sent by mail to the finance department at 55 King St. W., Cobourg, ON, K9A 2M2.
E-transfers can be sent to payments@cobourg.ca. Include ‘10 for 10 campaign’ in the notes section of the e-transfer.
Donations will be collected until Friday, Aug. 7.
Donation receipts are available upon request. The town asks residents to include their full name, mailing address and a note to indicate if they intend to pick up the receipt in-person or prefer for it to be mailed.
As of the Independent’s deadline, there were 117 active wildfires across northwestern Ontario, according to CBC.
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