Alberta corporations are generating a wave of moral and financial support as they show their compassion for Asian tsunami victims on a grand and sometimes creative scale.

Like their counterparts from across Canada, businesses are putting their backs into the relief effort, chipping in with hundreds of thousands of dollars to help ease the suffering of tsunami survivors from 11 countries in Asia and Africa.

"The response from Calgary businesses has just been overwhelming - they've really come through," says Jo Williams, spokesperson for the Canadian Red Cross Southern Alberta region.

"Businesses - large, medium and small - have been calling up and donating all they can any way they can. It's really been impressive."

Edmonton's small and medium-sized businesses have also thrown their collective weight behind the relief effort. Edmonton Red Cross spokesperson Ginette Benoit says several dozen companies have inundated the office with donations.

Among them is the Landmark Group of Builders that has anted up $100,000 for the cause, while car dealership Crosstown Motors will match employee donations on a 10-to-one basis.

"This is just typical of the kind of response we've been receiving during the past week, and we can only expect that several more Edmonton businesses will donate money in the days to come," Benoit says.

Williams estimates corporate donations to the Red Cross in southern Alberta exceeded half a million by late last week, and that total will likely continue growing over the weeks to come.

EnCana Corp. is pledging to double donations made by its employees to a number of charitable agencies involved in the tsunami relief.

"What we're trying to do is facilitate a program that taps into the desire of most people to give," says EnCana spokesperson Scott Ranson.

Ranson notes that this is the first time EnCana has agreed to double worker contributions - it usually matches dollar for dollar - and the first time the company has lifted a $25,000 donation ceiling for individual employees. He says these moves reflect the enormity of the tragedy.

Petro-Canada is also matching employee donations in both its Canadian and U.S. operations, with funds raised going to the Red Cross in both countries, while its United Kingdom office has offered £10,000 to charities in that country.

Hazel Gillespie, manager of the community investment program, expects Petro-Canada will be able to raise a good chunk of change by the Feb. 11 cutoff date for the matching campaign.

"I'm really pleased with the response early on and I expect it will just get better as people return from holidays," she says. "People feel helpless in these situations and one of the only things they can do is give money."

Gillespie says the company might consider further assistance beyond the immediate relief efforts, but adds "right now there is a hard need for cash."

Shell Canada Ltd. will pony up $100,000 for the relief effort. Royal Dutch Shell, which has operations in several of the affected countries and historical ties to Indonesia, once a Dutch colony, has also kicked in $3 million to help rebuild the region.

Shell spokesperson Simone Marler says that while the parent company's decision has somewhat influenced Shell Canada's donation, the company opened its wallet as a response to the sheer scale of the tragedy.

"Simply, it's the right thing to do," Marler says. "Like everyone else, we saw what had happened and we felt we should help, and do so in a significant way."

The corporate-giving arm of Suncor Energy Inc., the Suncor Energy Foundation, donated $40,000 to the Red Cross, but has also vowed to match employee and retailer contributions made to several charitable organizations already involved in responding to the disaster.

Foundation manager Cathy Glover says that in the first day of the month-long appeal, Suncor staff pledged $30,000. The foundation has urged those wishing to give do so prior to Jan. 11 to take advantage of the federal government offer to match donations made by Canadians.

Husky Energy Inc., which has holdings in Indonesia, is doling out $100,000 plus matching up to $50,000 of employee donations made by Jan. 15. The funds will go to the Red Cross, UNICEF, Care Canada and Doctors Without Borders.

"This initiative comes from our president, John Lau, who like everyone has been deeply touched by the disaster and wants to act," says spokesperson Leif Sollid.

Other large companies are onboard, including Nexen Inc., the Forzani Group Ltd. and Enbridge Inc. In Edmonton, ATB Financial donated $15,000 to the Red Cross.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people of the tsunami-affected regions," said CEO Bob Normand.

Calgary Co-op, meanwhile, is collecting money from its customers, and by mid-week last week donations topped $75,000.

Edmonton-based Caterpillar dealer Finning (Canada) is planning its response to the tsunami disaster, says Finning spokesperson Joanne Miller. In the meantime, the oilfield supply company is taking advantage of U.S.-based Caterpillar's plan to match up to $1 million of contributions from the employees of its worldwide dealers.

"Several people are taking advantage of (the Caterpillar) program. That is the most immediate way we're participating, but we are (also) drafting up a plan of our own," Miller says.

Farther north in Fort McMurray, oilsands giant Syncrude Canada Ltd. says it will donate a lump sum of $50,000 to the Red Cross in addition to matching worker donations made to several other Canadian organizations.

"A number of employees have already opened up their wallets to help the victims of this unprecedented natural disaster, and we want to do our part to help the people in those affected areas," says Syncrude spokesman Alain Moore.

It's not just the big players who are getting involved in financial aid, as smaller businesses open their own cash registers for the cause.

For Sam Chanhao, owner of Thai-Sa-On restaurant in Calgary's downtown core, the events of Dec. 26 have a special significance. The Thai-born restaurateur has been frantically calling back home to check on friends and family.

He says both he and his mother, who is in Thailand at the moment, have given money to help survivors. He plans to use a portion of the restaurant's profits to continue funding rebuilding efforts throughout 2005.

"It is important to me to help do what I can for Thailand right now," he says. "I have two countries; I'm happy here in Canada, but you never forget where you come from because it is the place you call home."

Chanhao also notes his gratitude to Canada's government and individual Canadians for opening their hearts and pocketbooks to his native land. He says many of his patrons are expressing their support and asking how they can help.

He also urges travelers to visit Thailand this year because the country relies heavily on tourist dollars to buoy its economy.

Charis Curtis has no relatives in the region, but found herself deeply affected by the destruction as the events unfolded. The owner of Prema Sai Wholistic Living - a holistic clinic and health-food store in Calgary specializing in massage and acupuncture - felt compelled to act.

"I was watching the news reports on TV with my boyfriend and just decided that I had to do something," she says.

But being a new entrepreneur with little extra cash, Curtis decided on a more imaginative approach and came up with the fund-raising idea of Rubdown for Relief. From Jan. 14 to 16, Prema Sai will offer neck, foot and hand massages for $1 per minute at its 2713 14 St. S.W. location with all proceeds to go to the Red Cross.

Curtis hopes the event will raise around $5,000.

The Calgary Red Cross's Williams points to Prema Sai's effort as a great example of the different ways small business can get involved.

"I would encourage smaller companies to think creatively, use their skills and have some fun at the same time."

(John Ludwick can be reached at ludwick@businessedge.ca)