In support of those affected by Hurricane Fiona

As communities picked up the pieces in the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona, the Fiona Recovery Fund was launched to help impacted communities in Newfoundland and Labrador with recovery and rebuilding.  

Facilitated by the Community Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador and Rotary in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Fiona Recovery Fund was intended for long-term recovery efforts, providing donors, both local and from away, with the knowledge and comfort that their contributions will support projects as identified by local communities when they are ready for rebuilding, months after emergency response.  

CFNL made the grant from the Fiona Recovery Fund at the direction of local communities. The full $20,000 raised from the fund was granted to the Town of Channel-Port aux Basques to support rebuilding the Grand Bay West Trail. The Grand Bay West Trail is a highly valued trail within town limits and a major tourist attraction. The town invested heavily in the trail area with long stretches of boardwalk, granular trails, parking, lookouts, wayfinding signage, washrooms, and interpretive features.  In September 2022, Hurricane Fiona destroyed much of this infrastructure, and the loss for residents was huge. The trail provided opportunities for exercise and relaxation and was an important part of many people’s physical and mental well-being.  The trail will not be rebuilt to match the previous trail; rather, it will be modified to increase its resilience and sustainability to storms, will include educational interpretation around climate change and will be designed with more accessibility. The first phase of the construction is expected to be completed in late 2025. 

Thank you to everyone who donated so generously to this fund.