Tribute to Canadian Red Cross
founder George Sterling Ryerson
The founding of The Canadian Red Cross Society can be attributed to
the courage and conviction of Dr. George Sterling Ryerson. In the spring
of 1885, during Louis Riel’s North West Rebellion, Dr. Ryerson planted
the seed for what would later become the Canadian Red Cross when he
needed something to distinguish the horse-drawn wagon being used to
transport the wounded. He obtained red material from the artillery, tore off
two strips and sewed them onto a white factory cotton. This was one of the first
Red Cross flags ever flown in Canada. In 1896, Dr. Ryerson founded the first overseas
branch of the British Red Cross, which in 1909 was officially incorporated as the Canadian Red Cross.
“It seems to me that it is a kind of duty one owes, to leave something behind so that future
generations may know that we, of this generation, worked for the future as well as the present
and that we expect them to continue to build on the foundations we have laid.”
1909
The Canadian Red Cross
Society Act is passed and
legally establishes the Red
Cross as the corporate body
responsible for providing
volunteer aid in Canada
in accordance with the
Geneva Convention.
1917
The Canadian Red Cross
responds to its first largescale disaster when a
munitions vessel and
another ship collide in the
Halifax Harbour. The Red
Cross provides emergency
medical assistance and social
services to the survivors of
the Halifax Explosion.
1920s
After World War I, the
Canadian Red Cross becomes
heavily involved in health
education and public
health initiatives.
The Junior Red Cross is
formed with the goal of
improving the health of
Canadian children.
1930s
In 1939, the Red Cross
establishes 2,088 branches,
nine provincial divisions,
and a national headquarters
in Toronto to prepare for
World War II.
The Canadian Red Cross first
aid program is established.
1940s
The Red Cross becomes firmly
embedded in Canadian society
through its extensive war
work. During World War II,
the Canadian Red Cross
organizes $80 million in
financial and material support
for the comfort and relief of
the sick and wounded. The Red
Cross offers programs to help
wounded veterans integrate
back into Canadian society.
Following the war, the
focus returns to health
and safety issues.
The Canadian Red Cross
Blood Transfusion Service
opens its first blood depot
in Vancouver.
Continued
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1946
1954
The swimming and
Hurricane Hazel hits
Gwenwater
Medcalf
hasprogram
been a member
of the Ontario,
Red
safety
is
southern
Crosslaunched
family fortoover
20
years,
volunteering
in of
address the leaving a trail
several
capacities
including
branch
president,
rising rates of drowning destruction in her
regional
president
and currentlywake.
as president
fatalities
in Canada.
The RedofCross
the Ontario Zone Council.
sends rescue workers
1950s
and nurses
to assist
“As I have continued on this journey
with Red
with
relief
efforts
outposthow
hospital
Cross,The
I realized
important our services and and
program
reaches
its peopleprovides
programs
are to
so many
- here at supplies.
home Red
Cross
volunteers
quickly
peak with almost
and throughout
the world,” says Medcalf.
assemble
shelters
in
90 outpost units
the
affected
areas
of
A resident
of
Grimsby,
Ontario,
Medcalf
fills
her
across Canada.
Ontario, sheltering
days volunteering within her community,
caring over
400
people.
for her grandson and fulfilling her
passion
for the
outdoors. She and her family operate Metcalfe
Electric Ltd. in Grimsby.
1970s
The Seniors Services
program is initiated
to improve the health
and independence of
seniors. Today these
programs include
transportation services,
Meals on Wheels, health
equipment loans and
home care services.
1979
A train derailment in
Mississauga, Ontario,
leads to the evacuation
of over 200,000
people. At reception
centres, Red Cross
volunteers register
evacuees, help settle
displaced residents, and
coordinate food and
health services.
caring company
spotlight
In addition to her extensive volunteer service,
Medcalf is also a Red Cross donor, and has chosen
to contribute in many ways.
“I give to the Family Campaign because I truly
feel that I am a member of this Red Cross family;
and second, through Circle of Humanity which
ensures monthly income and essential continuity
On October 24, 2007, Ontario Zone President Gwen Medcalf
to vital community services, and third, I’ve left a
gift in my will because I want to ensure Red Cross
Thank you, TELUS & employees!
is still here for my children and grandchild,” says
The Canadian Red Cross mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people
Medcalf.
by mobilizing the power of humanity in Canada and around the world.
“Unforeseen disasters, whether small or large, will
Red Cross Fundamental Principles
continue to happen, and I hope Red Cross will
Humanity
always be there to help,” she says.
For her dedicated service to the Society, Medcalf
was awarded the Order of the Red Cross in 2007.
“The 20 years have flown by! It has been a
wonderful experience. I have made some great
friends, I have developed skills, and I have had the
opportunity to touch lives,” says Medcalf. “Giving
Impartiality
Neutrality
Independence
Voluntary Service
Unity
Universality
Continued
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1998
An unprecedented ice
Gwenstorm
Medcalf
has southern
cripples
beenQuebec,
a member
of Ontario,
eastern
the Red
Cross
family
and parts of Atlantic
for over
20 years,
Canada.
Over 3,000 Red
volunteering
in severalsupport
Cross volunteers
capacities
including
rescue and relief efforts.
branch president,
On September
28, the
regional
president and
national
blood
program
currently as president
Canadian
of theoperated
Ontario by
Zone
Red Cross which helped
Council.
countless Canadians for
“As I have
morecontinued
than 50 years is
on this
journey
transferredwith
to Canadian
Red Cross,
realized and
Blood IServices
how Héma-Québec.
important our
services
andisprograms
Education
the key toare to so many people here
at
home
throughout the world,” says
prevention ofand
abuse,
Medcalf.
bullying, violence and sexual Following the terrorist
exploitation. The Canadian
attacks on
A resident of Grimsby, Ontario, Medcalf
fillsSeptember
her
Red Cross launches the
11, over 250
flights are
days volunteering within her community,
caring
RespectED: Violence and
rerouted
tofor
Canada,
for
her
grandson
and
fulfilling
her
passion
the and
Abuse Prevention program
stranded
passengers are
outdoors.
She
and
her
family
operate
Metcalfe
with the aim to break
given food, lodging, and
Electric
Ltd.
Grimsby.
the cycle
of in
hurt
through
comfort from dedicated
education.
Inprevention
addition to
her extensive volunteer
service,
Red Cross
workers. The
Medcalf is also a Red Cross donor,
and
hasRed
chosen
Canadian
Cross
to contribute in many ways.
deploys 146 volunteers
The Red Cross’s efforts in
to New York and helps
“Ithe
give
to the Family
Campaign because I truly
Landmines
Campaign
affected families in Canada.
feel
that
I am
member
helps
lead
toathe
signingofofthis Red Cross family;
and
second,
through
Circle of Humanity which
a treaty
to ban
landmines
ensures
monthly income
and essential continuity
by 124 countries
on
toDecember
vital community
services, and third, I’ve left a
2.
gift in my will because I want to ensure Red Cross
is still here for my children and grandchild,” says
Medcalf.
1984
2001
1997
“Unforeseen disasters, whether small or large, will
2003
The Ontario government
declares a provincial
emergency with the
outbreak of Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome
(SARS). Red Cross
volunteers respond to
the needs identified by
municipal public health
officers, which includes
delivering 5,500 health kits
to those affected.
The Humanitarian Issues
Program of the Canadian
Red Cross is launched
with a mandate to
promote international
humanitarian law and
values to government,
armed forces, media, youth
and civil society. It also
aims to connect individuals
separated by armed conflict
through its Restoring
Family Links program.
2005
In August, Hurricane Katrina
hits the U.S. Gulf Coast
and forces the mandatory
evacuation of New Orleans.
A state of emergency is
declared in selected regions
of Louisiana, Alabama, and
Mississippi. The Canadian
Red Cross sends volunteers
to assist the American Red
Cross in managing 270
shelters and delivering
some 500,000 hot meals
each day.
2006
In November, the Red
Cross launches a malaria
prevention program in
Africa, delivering 875,000
insecticide-treated bed
nets to families in Sierra
Leone, Africa. Since then,
more than 6.2 million nets
have been distributed.
2007
2004
On October 24, 2007, Ontario
Zone
President
The
Canadian
RedGwen
Cross
On December 26, a massive
Medcalf accepted a cheque for
over $47,000
from to
launches
the Auxiliary
tsunami hits Southeast
TELUS employee Manish Handa.
The
money
was
Asia, killing 225,000 people Government project with
raised through an employeethe
donation
aim of program
reviewingcalled
and
and affecting millions. The
Dollars for Dollars, where employees
choose
to donate
renewing
The
Canadian
Red
Canadian Red Cross is the
part of their salary to non-profit
organizations.
An
Cross Society Act to ensure
conduit for the largest
overwhelming number of TELUS
employees
tothe
a clearly
definedchose
role for
outpouring of financial
give to the Red Cross, with donations
more
Society inequalling
times of disaster.
support by Canadians in
than $20,000. TELUS matched the donations, bringing
history for a single disaster.
the total to $47,728. Our sincere thanks to TELUS and
employees for their generous contribution!
May 19 marks the 100th
anniversary of the signing
of the Canadian Red Cross
Society Act.
2009