March 25, 2022

Kory MacAusland is a member of RST’s Emergency Response Services team and a firefighter based on Prince Edward Island. He has been collecting supplies for a children’s hospital in the Ukrainian city of Lviv.

MacAusland is the founder of Canadian Bomberos, a group with a mission to help and provide gear to firefighters throughout Mexico, Central and South America, and beyond. In just six years, the group has delivered tonnes of equipment to Mexico, Lebanon, Uruguay, First Nations communities in Northern Canada, and provided equipment to about 40 fire departments across the Maritimes. The donation to Ukraine is being aided by Firefighters Without Borders Canada, and is expected to reach Ukraine within two weeks.

“We are a small piece in a very big puzzle,” says MacAusland, “I have no doubt we’ll be able to fill our 40’ shipping container with the donations we’ve received so far, maybe more.”

A private donor purchased the shipping container for MacAusland, and another has paid for the shipping expenses. RST took up a collection at its Saint John, NB headquarters to support the effort, filling four pallets with required items (including scrubs, linens, medical masks, surgical supplies, etc.). MacAusland picked up the donations on Saturday, working with RST Emergency Response Services Manager, Trevor Dickinson.

“I cannot thank our team enough,” says Dickinson. “I’m always very proud of where I work and the people I work with, but this just goes to show what we can accomplish in a short time with teamwork.”

To learn more, or to support the Canadian Bomberos, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/CanadianBomberos.

RST and Sunbury Transport: Driven To Help

With many Ukrainian drivers and staff, RST and Sunbury Transport have been actively responding to the crisis in Ukraine by raising funds, supporting Ukrainian employees, and continuing international recruitment efforts in Eastern Europe. In March, team members organized a 50/50 fundraiser, raising $510 through employee donations. The winner, a Sunbury driver from Ukraine himself, sent his winnings to support friends back home.

"The events taking place in Ukraine are unfathomable and deeply upsetting," writes Chris Bell, General Manager of Sunbury Transport. "We have 37 Ukrainian Nationals that are part of Team Sunbury. They are our friends, colleagues and neighbors. Many have immediate family still in Ukraine. We have six colleagues that are currently in Ukraine and two that we know of whom have joined the military. The bravery and resilience being displayed is inspiring."

Both trucking companies are working closely with the federal and provincial governments to reunite Ukrainian drivers with their family members and provide employment to spouses. In addition, employees are volunteering to help write English resumes for spouses of current Ukrainian employees. This is in response to the federal government’s issuing of open work permits for Ukrainians in Canada.

In a communication to employees earlier this year, the company wrote:

“We are closely monitoring developments in Ukraine and know many of our team members – in the office and on the road – are experiencing anxiety…[We] are fortunate to have a diverse, global team. In challenging times, driving kindness is more important than ever.” 

For more information about RST and Sunbury Transport, visit https://rsttransport.com/ or https://sunbury.ca/.