With the high volume of news events that capture our attention every day, the Fort McMurray wildfires have probably faded from your memory despite being the costliest disaster in Canadian history. The wildfires destroyed over 2,400 homes and buildings, and forced the evacuation of an entire city and many nearby communities. There was nothing fortunate about it, but I had the privilege of seeing VistaVu Solutions make a real difference for some clients during the crisis.
VistaVu didn’t actually roll up our sleeves and get directly involved, but the way our staff went above and beyond the typical call of a software vendor was just as impressive. In one example, a new client, Hines Industrial Site Services, lost all access to their Fort McMurray headquarters and had no idea when they’d be able to return. Their business was at a standstill unlike the fires that raged on. Upon hearing of their situation, VistaVu’s President, Jory Lamb, extended the offer to share our office space and accommodate most of Hines’ administrative staff and executives in our Calgary office. This turned out to be a great opportunity for both companies, as it allowed all members of the project team to work together more closely under one roof, a likely factor in the huge success of Hines’ implementation.
Another VistaVu client, Guthrie Mechanical Services, was not only evacuated but also lost access to their systems required to process payroll. For Guthrie, it was a priority to get their staff paid during the crisis so employees could take care of themselves and their families. VistaVu was able to quickly stand up their system in a new hosted environment and enable payroll for their staff who were dispersed across Alberta. VistaVu’s staff didn’t hesitate to do whatever they had to do and work around the clock to make it happen for Guthrie.
The wildfires were a devastating time for Alberta but have, surprisingly, made many positive memories for VistaVu staff. I’m grateful we were in the position to help our partners in their time of need, through some non-traditional methods. I was proud to see staff putting clients first with the belief that our success is ultimately based on theirs. It’s easy to lose focus on community and partnership when you’re involved in the daily grind of business. But ultimately, businesses are made of real people who sometimes find themselves in times of need.
VistaVu Solutions is always looking for opportunities to help our partners Run Great. Check out our website and feel free to contact me anytime.
