In the wake of a 400 km/h hurricane, RCMP employee network collected 400 lbs of relief donations
By Mara Shaw
Hurricane Melissa tore through the island of Jamaica in October 2025, leaving a path of devastation in its wake.
Image by Shutterstock
February 18, 2026
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On October 28, a category 5 hurricane hit the Caribbean island of Jamaica. The catastrophic storm, reaching record breaking winds of 406 km/h, made landfall on the west coast of the island leaving a devastating trail of destruction in its wake. Homes and businesses were destroyed, essential services disrupted, and families were displaced.
For a group of RCMP employees in Ontario, the tragedy hit personally and incited an initiative to support relief efforts. What followed was an employee-led organized donation drive, steered by members of Ontario's Central Region Black Employee Network (CR BEN) with support from allies in local detachments.
A question leads to a mission
The relief campaign began as a sheer question. Feeling the weight and urgency of the crisis, Constable Chris Fortella, an early member of CR BEN who comes from a Jamaican background, asked CR BEN founder and chair, Sergeant Stu Philp, how the network could support.
“I hadn't really heard anything about efforts to help,” says Fortella, who works in Ontario's Criminal Intelligence Section. “I guess in asking the question I volunteered myself to coordinate efforts from the Newmarket and Airport detachments.”
Philp secured approval from regional management, and with full support from the diversity coordinator, Fortella quickly finalized the plan and began to mobilize resources. Backed by the network, Fortella worked closely with fellow organizer and CR BEN member, Chantel Hall, who stepped up with administrative coordination.
Within days, a small group came together virtually to determine what was possible under tight timelines. The Canadian Jamaican Association (JCA), which was coordinating relief efforts on the ground, had a firm deadline to receive all donations—leaving the team with only a couple weeks to pull everything off. The challenge was significant—but so was the response.
Detachments unite for a cause
The team collected donations from detachments across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and surrounding area, including Toronto Airport, Newmarket, London, Kitchener, Milton and Stoney Creek. Employees from all categories and ranks contributed, dropping off essential items like healthcare supplies, women's and baby care items and other household and personal hygiene essentials.
At the Newmarket and Airport detachments, Fortella hosted a lunchtime donation blitz to thank donors for their contributions. As people brought in goods, Fortella and team served up beef patties and “Ting”, a coveted snack and beverage combination common in the Jamaican culture.
Fortella says it was a time for people to come together and support one another. “People came down and had their stories to share, whether it was their love for Jamaica, or Jamaican patties. The support was there.”
The behind-the-scenes efforts and outpouring of support culminated into a 400-lb donation of goods that were given to the JCA to ship directly to Jamaica for persons in need.
Hall, who supports in an administrative capacity for an Emergency Response Team in Central Region, has family and close friends in Jamaica. She says she was moved by the expression of support.
“Seeing the outpour of concern, I thought, 'Wow, people really care.' There are so many things going on in the world, so it was really nice to see that people wanted to help.”
Creating space for empowerment
Philp says the Hurricane Melissa relief effort is one of the many initiatives that reflect the mounting impact of the Network within the region. Initially formed in 2020 in the wake of the death of George Floyd, CR BEN emerged as a space for African, Black, and Caribbean employees, and allies, to connect and support each other.
What may have started as informal conversations has now evolved into a network that hosts internal networking events, partners with other police services, collaborates with external stakeholders like the Association of Black Law Enforcers, and plays an active role engaging senior leaders at the RCMP, offering a unique and diverse lens. Philp says that open channel of communication with leadership helps to ensure voices are heard and reflected in broader organizational conversations.
“We're here to provide a safe space, where people can be their truest self, and feel seen,” says Philp. “There's a space for us to feel that we're contributing to the RCMP and helping to make it better."
Not only did the campaign show CR BEN's ability to move ideas into effective change, but it also displayed the value of employee-led initiatives. “I think it's important to highlight Black culture within the RCMP,” says Fortella, on the value of the network and the platform it offers. “The longer this network is around, can only be to everyone else's benefit.”
Steps that go the distance
Despite rigid timelines and cross-city logistic challenges, Fortella takes pride in what was accomplished, encouraging anyone with an idea to act on it.
“We can't always wait for initiatives to come from leadership,” says Fortella. “Take that first step, ask a question or have a meaningful conversation about things that matter to you.”
Beyond the tangible donations, the campaign reinforced RCMP core values of compassion and empathy. In moments of crisis, community matters. CR BEN and its allies united, proving true the old Jamaican proverb: “every mickle mek a muckle” — which is to say, every little bit counts.