Calgary Rams Rugby Club members and rugby community at large... I want to share today - July 26, 2024 - the heartbreaking news that Kyla McGillis, a valued member of our Rams family, and her husband, Ryan Howard, have lost their home in Jasper, Alberta, due to a devastating wildfire.

Just five days ago, there was no immediate threat, but today, they are without a home.

Kyla came to the Rams after moving to Calgary from Red Deer, having previously played for the Red Deer Titans. From the moment she joined, Kyla made a significant impact on and off the pitch. She played backrow with both aggression and skill and contributed to the Sr Women's first Provincial Championship in 2004.

Kyla's influence extended beyond the field as she was a frequent volunteer and deeply appreciated VP of Women’s Rugby on the Rams Exectutive.

I’m Vince Fowler, and I joined the Calgary Rams Rugby Club in the spring of ’98. I served the club as an athlete, coach, and staunch supporter of the women's program - fortunate to coach the senior women alongside Fred Kazakoff in the 2004 Provincial Championship.

The Rams have always been more than a club to me; they’re family. In 2008, during a time of need when our 8-day-old son suffered an unexpected heart failure, it was clubmate Angie Teltley who rallied the club to support us with funds, food, and babysitting.

At this time, while many details are still unknown, what we do know is that Kyla and Ryan were able to evacuate and their home in Jasper is now gone. At the time of this post - Ryan, is currently in Jasper relieving EMS crews - he's an Advanced Care Paramedic.

Imagine living in this scenario:

July 21: Jasper National Park states, "The Utopia and Needle Peak wildfires are located more than 50 km (driving distance) from the Town of Jasper and pose no immediate threat to the community or nearby communities at this time."

July 22: Jasper citizens are ordered to evacuate. Kyla & Ryan evacuate to Kamloops.

July 25: Much of Jasper townsite burns to the ground.

July 26: Kyla & Ryan learn their home is gone.

Kyla shared, “When Jasper was evacuated on Monday night (July 22), we could not have imagined the tragedy that has taken place. I left expecting to come back to the town as I had left it - you can call that optimism or you can call it naivety.

The well-meaning phrases are rolling in, and they’re the same ones we’re telling ourselves: ‘It’s just stuff,’ ‘At least we are safe,’ ‘We have each other,’ etc. These are all true but right now, they don’t comfort the grief of losing a home we loved in a place we were really settling into. We’ve lost some irreplaceable and invaluable items that we rarely gave thought to until we no longer had them. We know we will rebuild, but we are processing what that means or even looks like for us.”

On the bright side, Kyla and Ryan are safe. Over the years, the Rams Rugby Club membership has come together to support its members for all sorts of reasons—from baby showers to finding a job, making a connection, finding a roommate, moving, hosting an import player, hosting 11 import players (Varty's Barracks), finding club sponsorships, finding athlete sponsorships, finding a spouse (thank you), seeking/giving legal advice, business advice, buying and selling a home, weddings and funerals, and... and many, many more.

How will the funds be used:

While we don't know exactly where Kyla and Ryan will need assistance, I believe it’s fair to say that, based on the experiences of those displaced by previous fires in Slave Lake, Fort McMurray, and other jurisdictions, the system (Government, insurance, rebuilding, etc.) is slow. Kyla and Ryan will have some very real and immediate needs.

Please join me and other members of the Rams and rugby community in supporting Kyla and Ryan during this difficult time. Your generosity and support can make a significant difference as they navigate the challenges ahead.

Kyla's an HR professional employed by Jasper National Park.

Kyla's husband, Ryan, is currently in Jasper relieving EMS crews - he's an Advanced Care Paramedic for Associated Ambulance in Jasper and also works for BC Emergency Health Serivces in Valemount, BC (1h 20m from Jasper).

Once a Ram, always a Rams. Together, we rise!

With gratitude,

Vince Fowler

Calgary Rams Alumni

Past President, 2006-2008

GoFundMe want's to ensure this is a legit cause, the following is to support the GoFundMe Admins.

The funds raised are for Kyla McGillis and her husband Ryan Howard who lost their home to a wildfire in Jasper, Alberta, Canada.

I'm Vince Fowler, a long-time friend of Kyla's - we both played for the Calgary Rams Rugby Club based in Calgary, Alberta.