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Amazon has opened its first Canadian disaster relief hub in Edmonton, positioning Alberta as a key centre for emergency response as Canada continues to face increasingly severe wildfire seasons.
The company announced the hub is now operational inside an existing Edmonton fulfilment centre, where it will stock specialized emergency supplies that can be donated and shipped to Canadian communities before, during and after disasters.
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An opening is planned for October, when the facility is expected to hold more than 180,000 emergency relief items.
The Edmonton hub has been designed specifically with Canada’s growing wildfire threat in mind.
Amazon says the facility will stock wildfire response supplies, including air purifiers, N95 masks, respirators, heavy-duty boots, gloves, helmets, goggles and sifters, allowing aid to reach affected communities within hours rather than days.
The company noted Canada’s last three wildfire seasons have ranked among the 10 worst on record, with the record-breaking 2023 season burning 16.5 million hectares.
“Wildfire season in Canada is starting earlier, lasting longer, and becoming harder to contain,” said Abe Diaz, Amazon’s head of disaster relief.
Amazon says the hub will work alongside organizations including the Canadian Red Cross and Team Rubicon Canada, providing donated supplies during emergencies.
While wildfire response is its primary focus, the facility will also stock emergency supplies for floods, tornadoes and other disasters, including cleaning equipment and essential items for displaced families such as diapers, wipes and strollers.
The company says it is already monitoring active wildfires and air quality concerns across Canada and is prepared to respond if partner organizations request assistance.
Team Rubicon Canada Chief Operating Officer Tim Kenney said having supplies pre-positioned in Canada will significantly improve emergency response.
He said disasters are becoming more complex and communities need assistance faster than ever.
The Canadian Red Cross also welcomed the investment, saying disaster preparedness and community resilience are becoming increasingly important as emergencies become more frequent.
Amazon employees at the Edmonton fulfilment centre will dedicate part of their regular shifts to organizing and maintaining emergency supplies throughout the year.
During disasters, associates can transition to full-time hub operations to prepare shipments for affected communities.
The Edmonton location becomes the second wildfire-focused disaster relief hub in Amazon’s global network and the company’s first such facility in Canada.
Amazon says it now operates 12 disaster relief hubs in seven countries and has delivered more than 30 million relief items in response to more than 200 disasters since 2017.
— with files from CJME News
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