07/07/2025
There was no hesitation when the Canadian Red Cross called on Liam Walsh to join the effort to help the more than 20,000 families displaced by wildfires in Manitoba this past month.
For Liam, an Intermediate Accountant with our company, it was a chance to give back to an organization that inspired him. In 2017, the Red Cross offered to support his family after a house fire in Truro, NS, motivating him to later join as a volunteer.
“The kindness and selflessness I experienced from those volunteers opened my eyes. It made me want to help others caught in these circumstances.”
Liam considers his family fortunate — everyone made it out safely and he was able to stay with relatives — but says the organization went above and beyond to provide care and support.
In Winnipeg, as an Emergency Response Technician, Liam reunited with familiar faces from previous volunteer efforts as they worked to support displaced residents with hotel rooms, relief centres, transportation and necessities.
“My team at Irving Oil has supported me through the whole volunteer process,” he says. “Knowing I could step away to help others, they helped make sure my work was covered.” Through our company’s employee giving and volunteering program, our teams are always encouraged to give back to causes that are important to them.
Thank you, Liam, and to all of our employees who continue to make a difference.
