Entertainment

Gerry Dee, Jonathan Torrens, James Taylor among those reaching out to Fort McMurray fire evacuees

As people across the country reach out to help victims of the devastating forest fires in Alberta, some well-known Canadians are also doing their part.

Benefit comedy shows, assistance with flights among efforts being made to help disaster victims

A helicopter battles a wildfire in Fort McMurray. (Jason Franson/Canadian Press)

As people across the country reach out to help victims of the devastating forest fires in Alberta, some well-known Canadians are also doing their part.

Comedian Gerry Dee, star of CBC's Mr. D, hosted a Fort McMurray benefit show Saturday called We Got Your Back Fort Mac at Yuk Yuk's comedy club in Calgary.
Comedian Gerry Dee is performing at Yuk Yuk's Calgary comedy club Saturday. Proceeds will go to the Red Cross. (Twitter)

"We actually raised $12,700!!" Dee posted on his Twitter account afterwards. "Government matches for another $12,700."

The money will go to the Red Cross. 

Another benefit comedy show involving Canadian Aaron Berg and a number of other American stand-up comics will be held Monday in New York City. Proceeds from the $20 US tickets will go to the Red Cross as well.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley has told everyone to leave the Fort McMurray area because of the dangerous conditions unless they are authorized to be there.

East coasters trying to leave the fire-ravaged area are getting help from actor-producer Jonathan Torrens. Torrens, who is originally from Prince Edward Island and based in Halifax, has offered to fly people home using his travel points.

The idea has sparked the social media hashtag #GetMeBackFromFortMac and is also encouraging others to contribute, including Nova Scotian musician Joel Plaskett.

"I've got over 200,000 Aeroplan points," Plaskett posted on his Twitter feed in response to Torrens. "Let me know how to transfer once it's set up. Good work!"

So far, the arrangement has helped more than a dozen stranded evacuees.

American musician James Taylor is also trying to contribute. The Fire and Rain and You've Got a Friend singer says he plans to donate the proceeds from his upcoming concerts in Alberta to support victims of the wildfires.

"To turn those couple of shows into benefits is just too good an opportunity to pass up," Taylor said in a phone interview with the Associated Press from his tour bus. "It's a major national catastrophe and it's just impossible to ignore it."

Relief concerts are also being planned in the Maritimes; Great Big Sea's Alan Doyle and New Brunswicker Matt Minglewood are just a few of the artists getting involved.

A change in the weather has slowed the progress of the Fort McMurray wildfire, though it still rages out of control, according to Alberta fire officials.

It currently sits at 161,000 hectares, or 1,610 square kilometres, a little under three times the size of Edmonton. 

With files from The Associated Press