Singing South African firefighters a positive impact on Fort McMurray work camp
Roberta Bell | CBC News | Posted: June 12, 2016 8:18 PM | Last Updated: June 12, 2016
‘Despite what they were going through, they always sang and were happy’
The contingent of firefighters from South Africa travelled 16,000 kilometres to help fight the Fort McMurray wildfire, but Lori Styles says they helped make the work camp they were staying at feel like home.
So when the firefighters stopped showing up for their shifts last week over a wage dispute, Styles told CBC News that there was a show of support — but in a unique way.
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"It wasn't really a protest like we would in Canada. They're not waving flags or different posters or that kind of thing," Styles said. "It was more to sing and keep your spirits up, basically. That's what their culture is all about, I think."
When the firefighters touched down at the Edmonton International Airport on May 29, they broke into song and dance.
Even in the work camp they never stopped singing. Styles, a drummer, would play the bongos with the firefighters when they would burst into song.
Styles said joining in on the music during the firefighters strike was a way for her and other oil camp workers to give back to the group of firefighters that had such a positive impact on the camps atmosphere.
"It was our way to kind of say that we care about them and we all love them and we were wishing that they weren't going through this hard time," she said.
"They come all the way here and it's important for them to come and feel part of Canada, to get basically equal pay. And when I found out is was $50 a day, it was quite shocking…"
Going home
The firefighters came to Canada through a South African government-funded organization called Working on Fire, which bid on a tender through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.
The firefighters, many of whom are poor, were upset by media reports that suggested they were earning between $15 and $21 an hour. In reality, their contract stipulated they would only be earning $50 a day on top of their South African wage.
The Alberta government has said the firefighters will be compensated in accordance with Alberta laws, but by South Africa.
The when, where, and how that will happen is still unclear.
Working on Fire did not respond to interview requests from CBC News.
In an earlier statement, the organization said it's never been about "making money" and was disappointed an internal solution couldn't be reached before it "escalated to become an international incident."
The firefighters were slated to work two fourteen-day rotations — but didn't even complete one. Officials from Working on Fire have reportedly arrived in Alberta to escort the firefighters home.They were bussed to Edmonton Saturday and were expected to fly out Sunday.
Styles said the oil camp is quieter now — and that she wishes the firefighters were still there.
The firefighters helped her see the economic downturn in the oil sands in a new light.
"It's been a rough year. We've lost a lot of our good co-workers and a lot of people got cutbacks. We can't even begin to identify with what they were experiencing, but in a small way we do..." Styles said.
"Despite what they were going through, they always sang and were happy and were very grateful and respectful."