Coca‑Cola Canada Provides Funding, Beverages to Support Flood Relief in British Columbia

The Coca‑Cola system in Canada is rallying to support communities impacted by devastating flooding and mudslides in British Columbia. What is being called a “once-in-500-year flood event” swallowed highways, washed away bridges and cut off railroads, killing at least four and forcing thousands to evacuate following heavy rains that began falling on Nov. 15. 

The Coca‑Cola Company’s North America Operating Unit (NAOU) is donating a total of $150,000 CAD toward relief efforts, and Coke Canada Bottling is distributing water to impacted communities. 

NAOU is giving $75,000 CAD to the Canadian Red Cross to support emergency response and relief efforts. The organization launched the British Columbia Floods and Extreme Weather Appeal to support those impacted by severe rainfall across the province’s southern coast and interior regions. Funds raised will help the Red Cross provide emergency shelter, food, clothing and other basic necessities for evacuating families and individuals, as well as tailored emotional support to survivors coping with loss and hardship. Additionally, the NAOU is donating $75,000 CAD to Food Banks BC, a consortium of more than 100 food banks across British Columbia, to support the ongoing need for food and other supplies in rural and remote regions of the province.  In many cases where the roads are not accessible, Food Banks BC is sourcing and transporting food directly into the community.

Coke Canada Bottling has donated more than 400 cases of water, to date, to support hard-hit communities. No Coca‑Cola associates have been personally affected.

“We continue to see the devastating impacts of the flooding and landslides in British Columbia,” said Trevor Lamb, VP Western Canada. “As the Lower Mainland’s local bottler, our thoughts are with our local teams, our customers, and all British Columbians during the state of emergency. Once again, our local Coke Canada Bottling teams, who have shown incredible resiliency over the past two years, have come together to take action and deliver optimism.”