For Immediate Release:

Shelburne, NS – Paper Excellence Canada is pleased to announce a $175,000 contribution to support the ongoing recovery efforts for individuals, families, and communities in Shelburne and Barrington, Nova Scotia, who were affected by the wildfires in June 2023.

Of the total funds, $115,000 will directly support families rebuilding damaged and destroyed homes, and $60,000 will support the We Rise Again Fund – Shelburne County’s efforts to help community members recover. Paper Excellence is grateful for its contribution partners, Freeman Lumber and Scotsburn Lumber, who are providing more than $66,000 in in-kind lumber to support rebuilding efforts, and Wilson’s Home Hardware Barrington for helping Paper Excellence provide families most in need with building supplies.

“Paper Excellence Canada is committed to supporting the provinces and communities where we operate, especially during challenging times like those experienced in Nova Scotia,” said Jean-Francois Guillot, Chief Operating Officer of Paper Excellence Canada. “The wildfires of June 2023 were incredibly devastating for many Nova Scotians and left numerous families with damaged and destroyed homes. We are hopeful that our contribution and the support of our partners will offer reprieve to those families most impacted in the Shelburne and Barrington areas.”

The We Rise Again Fund – Shelburne County was established to support rebuilding gaps, mental health, and healing support for individuals, families, and communities impacted by the fires. All funds raised through the We Rise Again Fund – Shelburne County will support local needs, with local decision-makers ensuring local impacts.  

“Our goal is to raise $1 million to support our community members following the devastating wildfires,” said Samantha Brannen, Fund Representative, We Rise Again Fund – Shelburne County. “Paper Excellence’s substantial donation and support for our communities will jump-start the rebuilding efforts for many families and have had a lasting impact for years.”

Donations to the We Rise Again Fund – Shelburne County can be made at https://cfns-fcne.ca/weriseagainfund/.

Paper Excellence’s $175,000 contribution follows its $25,000 donation to the Canadian Red Cross Nova Scotia & Atlantic Canada Fires Appeal earlier this year. This donation received matched support from the Governments of Canada and Nova Scotia. Today’s donation brings the total contributed to those most impacted by the fires in Barrington and Shelburne to $200,000.

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About Paper Excellence

Paper Excellence Canada, headquartered in British Columbia, is a diversified manufacturer of pulp and specialty, printing, writing, and packaging papers in Canada with a production capacity of over 2.5 million tonnes annually and a workforce of more than 2,100. Paper Excellence is pleased to work in partnership with communities where we operate as a major employer of choice and market leader.

About We Rise Again Fund – Shelburne County

A number of families in our communities have been severely impacted by the wildfires. Even with insurance coverage and support from funding organizations like United Way and Red Cross, other similar experiences have shown that many people will still need significant help to get back on their feet after climate disasters.

That’s why the We Rise Again Fund – Shelburne County has been created. The Community Foundation of Nova Scotia (CFNS) is working in partnership with a group of community volunteers from across Shelburne County to raise $1 million dollars for the We Rise Again Fund – Shelburne County.  Donations made to the We Rise Again Fund – Shelburne County are tax deductible.

The Fund aims to support rebuilding gaps and mental health and healing support for individuals, families and communities impacted by the fires. All funds raised through the We Rise Again Fund – Shelburne County will support local needs, with local decision-makers ensuring local impacts.  

Media Contact
Sasha Irving
Paper Excellence
sasha.irving@paperexcellence.com
(902) 229-5104

Left to right: Rick Archibald, Paper Excellence; Stephen Freeman, Freeman Lumber