Slave Lake Challenge Update:

Residents were allowed back into Slave Lake on May 27 and since then have experienced heavy rains resulting in flooding. There has been an outpouring of clothing donations from all over Canada to the point that they have run out of room to physically put them. Approximately $3,000,000 has been raised through the Red Cross and the Town of Slave Lake Rebuild Association.

William and Kate the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Slave Lake on Wednesday July 6 for about three hours. They were greeted by over 3000 people. “They were great, very down to earth and extremely sympathetic to everything that we, the residents of Slave Lake, have been through”, says Darin Busk, Production Solutions Specialist, KUDU Industries.

Demolition started for zones 2 (July 6) and zone 1 (July 9) so things are finally starting to get cleaned up. There are many people who are not able to move back to the community because of lack of housing but the Town of Slave Lake is trying to rectify that problem as they progress through this disaster.

Photo credit: Darlene Peterson, Global News

KUDU is supporting residents of the Slave Lake area who were forced from their homes due to forest fires by donating $5,000 to the Canadian Red Cross and is asking other Alberta businesses to join the Donate to Slave Lake Challenge.

Approximately 7,000 people have been displaced with an estimated 732 households affected. “It is important to get involved,” said Ray Mills, CEO of KUDU. “We have a field store in Slave Lake that didn’t get touched by the fire but some of our employees have lost their homes.”

KUDU has been in operation in Slave Lake since 1999.  “It is important for us to be there for the community, our customers and KUDU employees. This is a difficult time but by working together we will get through it,” said Alex Damnjanovic, COO of KUDU. KUDU has also started an employee donation program and KUDU will match the final amount, the money collected will go directly to KUDU employees who were affected by the fires.    

Please show your support by joining the KUDU Donate to Slave Lake Challenge. If you donate any money to help the residents of the Slave Lake area, please let Rick Charland from Nickles Energy Group know at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . He will be keeping tabs of all the donations and run a follow up story on the amount raised and companies who got involved. If you have any questions regarding the Donate to Slave Lake Challenge, please contact Jennifer McMurtry at 403 875 3874 or via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Thank you for your support.