Members of the local Filipino community trying to raise funds to help victims of Typhoon Haiyan got a boost from a visit by Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Friday.
Harper came out for a fundraiser at the Philippine Canadian Cultural Centre. He took pictures, shook hands with volunteers and praised their efforts.
Organizers Charmaine Hernandez said this is a true case of an entire case of an entire community working together to help in a crisis.
“In this fundraising alone, everything you see has been donated from program, to food, whatever I ask, people would say, ‘Yes, Charmaine, we’ll be there,’” she said.
The death toll in the Philippines has risen to more than 5,000 people, and that number is expected to climb higher.
Friday was Harper’s second night in Winnipeg. He is expected to at the Grey Cup game in Regina on Sunday.
