The West Shore Local Hero Awards are back! You can find this yearB次元官网网址檚 special feature in the March 22 edition of the Goldstream Gazette or online under e-editions. Stay tuned for more on each of this yearB次元官网网址檚 honourees, you will be able to read their stories online at goldstreamgazette.com.
Margaret Stevens has worked tirelessly for more than 13 years to keep the City of Langford ready should disaster ever strike.
Stevens is the co-director of the cityB次元官网网址檚 Emergency Support Services, an organization that has provided relief and short-term basic support to people impacted by house fires, earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters in the city throughout its 27-year history.
Bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role, Stevens has been instrumental in the organizationB次元官网网址檚 growth and success. As co-director, sheB次元官网网址檚 responsible for organizing LangfordB次元官网网址檚 ESS team of 47 volunteers and ensuring all those members are properly trained and equipped to respond to any local or regional disaster that may occur.
She says there are two primary roles an ESS serves in its community. Teaching residents about emergency preparedness is one, while the other is the actual response to emergencies themselves.
According to Stevens, volunteers - on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week - can be called out to an emergency at any time, whether it be a fire, flood or other disaster in which people are in need of the basic necessities of life.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 totally unpredictable B次元官网网址� it could be something as simple as someone lighting a candle under their drapes, or it could be something really catastrophic. But you have no way of knowing, so weB次元官网网址檙e ready,B次元官网网址� Stevens told the Goldstream Gazette.
B次元官网网址淣ow, you might have an apartment block and a whole bunch of people have insurance and they can go stay with someone. But you might have people who have nothing, they have no insurance, nowhere to go, nobody to stay with B次元官网网址� theyB次元官网网址檝e lost everything.B次元官网网址�
The organization provides a range of items and services to evacuees, including emergency shelter, food, cots, blankets, clothing, emotional support and more during their first 72 hours in need.
If evacuees are still in need after the first 72 hours following a disaster, says Stevens, ESS can either ask the province, which funds ESS organizations, or request that another agency such as the Canadian Red Cross take over relief efforts.
Sometimes, Stevens says, people just need someone to talk to.
B次元官网网址淵ou have to understand that people are very stressed and theyB次元官网网址檙e not thinking very clearly quite often when something like that happens,B次元官网网址� she said.
Stevens has been recognized by her colleagues for her leadership, compassion and dedication to the community. Her ability to remain calm and focused has been particularly notable, and has earned Stevens the respect and admiration of her peers.
As Langford continues to grow and develop, the importance of organizations like ESS and leaders like Stevens cannot be overstated.
B次元官网网址淥ur purpose is to serve people in Langford who need help after an event,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 the bottom line.B次元官网网址�
READ MORE: 2023 Local Hero Awards
