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Call for solidarity with Haiti: Canadian academics among the victims

(January 20, 2010) CAUT has donated $5,000 to relief efforts in Haiti following the massive earthquake there last week, and is calling on its member associations to contribute and pass the word on to their members.

At least four academics are among the Canadians confirmed killed in the massive earthquake that struck Haiti last week.

A founder of the Université du Québec à Montréal, Georges Anglade, died alongside his wife, Mireille Neptune Anglade, when the home they were staying in on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince collapsed.

Philippe Rouzier, a former professor at Université Laval, was visiting with the Anglades when the earthquake struck and was also killed.

Denis Bellavance, a computer science professor from Drummondville, Quebec, was giving a lecture at the Port-au-Prince University when the earthquake struck.

“We are witnessing a terrible tragedy unfolding in Haiti and we must do everything we can to help,” said CAUT president Penni Stewart. “We know Canada’s academic community will respond with the same generosity as it has in past crises.”

She said CAUT has chosen to contribute to the Humanitarian Coalition which brings together CARE Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Québec and Save the Children Canada and is dedicated to a united response to humanitarian crises.

The Canadian government says it will match individual Canadians’ donations for Haitian relief efforts made to eligible registered charities between January 12 and February 12, 2010.

Donations can be made directly through the Humanitarian Coalition web site or by phone at 1-800-464-9154.