CIOCAN AND ERA PARTNER TO DONATE EQUIPMENT TO FORT MCMURRAY FIRE VICTIMS

National IT Association Partners with Tech Refurbisher to Donate Equipment to Fort McMurray Fire Victims

 Non-profit tech association rallies to form accessible computer donation program aimed at replacing equipment lost in May wildfires

Edmonton, AB (June 29, 2016) –The Electronic Recycling Association (ERA) has partnered with the CIO Association of Canada (CIOCAN) to launch a program that will allow individuals and businesses affected by the May wildfires in Fort McMurray to request and receive computer equipment.

The program will give Fort McMurray residents and businesses the opportunity to attain donated computer equipment to replace items lost or damaged in the fire. Equipment will be provided at no cost to verified Fort McMurray citizens.

Spearheaded by the Edmonton chapter, CIOCAN has put out a national request for equipment to support the initiative.

“As Information Technology leaders for various businesses across Canada, we have a unique opportunity to donate electronic devices to victims of the May wildfires.” Says Shaun Guthrie, chapter president of CIOCAN in Edmonton.  “Leveraging our network and using that as a way to give back to the community is not only a key value of the CIO Association of Canada, but it’s the right thing to do.”

“Businesses and citizens of Alberta have done an incredible job of showing support for fire victims through monetary and physical donations, but we haven’t yet seen a program focused on electronic devices” says Bojan Paduh, founder and president of ERA. “While a computer isn’t the first thing you would think those affected would need, in order to get back to a sense of normalcy people need to be connected and have access to information. Many people lost everything – including phones, computers, and other household electronics, and may not have access to new equipment for some time. Living without these things would be extremely difficult – so we want to help by offering donated equipment.”

Organizations can donate equipment to Fort McMurray fire victims by accessing the donor form: https://www.era.ca/donate-to-give-back-to-fort-mac-initiative/

Applications for equipment donations can be made utilizing the request form on ERA’s website: https://www.era.ca/give-back-to-fort-mac/

The call for equipment can be found on CIOCAN’s website: http://www.ciocan.ca/calling-cios-give-back-fort-mac-hardware-donation-program/

The program is slated to run until September 27^th 2016.

– 30 –

About the Electronic Recycling Association (ERA)

Established in 2004, the ERA is a non-profit organization directed to reduce the environmental impact of improperly discarded toxic electronic waste by offering accessible services to help corporations and individuals manage their retiring IT assets. With reuse being the ERA’s top priority, every item that is received is examined for any remaining productive life and refurbished for reuse. True end of life items are transferred to accredited recyclers where a nil landfill contribution can be assured. The ERA is committed to supporting local charities and individuals in need through the provision of electronic equipment.

About the CIO Association of Canada (CIOCAN)

The CIO Association of Canada was founded in 2004, extending to a national level the success of the CIO Association of BC created in 1998. CIOCAN is a not-for-profit community of CIOs and Information Technology leaders whose mission is to facilitate networking, sharing of best practices and executive development, and to drive advocacy on issues facing CIOs/IT Executives.

Media contacts:

Kristi Gartner
Marketing and Communications Manager
Electronic Recycling Association (ERA)
403.262.4488
[email protected]

Shaun Guthrie
Director, Information Technology – Go Auto
Edmonton Chapter President – CIO Association of Canada
780-733-6634
[email protected]