My wife Tammy & I, along with Deputy Mayor Darcy Eskra & his wife Annette, had the pleasure of attending the Killam Fire Department Christmas Party recently. An annual event, it is a chance for this hard working group of volunteers and their partners to get together socially, share a few stories & laughs, and to celebrate their achievements & awards.
Volunteer Fire Departments were once thought of as a group of guys who got together once a month to spray some water on the street, then have a few beers & play some cards. While this may be the case with some departments today, I can tell you that Killam Fire Department takes their task far more seriously.
Chief Joe Knievel informed us that his members combined for over 1,000 hours of training in 2011 – that is a phenomenal commitment as a volunteer; time away from work, friends & family. Add to this the time spent at practice, maintaining equipment, and at fire calls, and their commitment is staggering.
Being a former member of this group, I know the dedication it takes to do the job effectively while keeping themselves & their colleagues safe.
It is a commitment that is 24/7, 365 days of the year. This fact was brought home at last year’s event – interrupted twice by two different emergency response call outs.
These men & women provide something very precious to our community – peace of mind – and I am proud of them for that.
I encourage you to offer a word of encouragement or shake the hand of a fire fighter you know - they make a huge contribution to our safety & well being.
A portion of my remarks to this group follow.
Cheers,
It’s my pleasure to bring greetings to you on behalf of our community and my Town Council colleagues, and to pass on our sincere thanks for all that you do for the Town of Killam, and the region, in the delivery of fire & rescue services.
As well, congratulations to those of you who are receiving an award this evening.
Killam, like any small town, depends on involvement by its residents to be progressive. There are various opportunities to volunteer for your community, from service groups like the Lions Club or Legion, to community boards, like the Recreation Board or Library Board. All have an important role to play.
Being a fire fighter is another way to serve your community, but in a very distinct way. Your role requires you to drop what you are doing & leave work, home, the hockey rink, your kid’s soccer game, a good night’s sleep, or whatever, to help those who may very well be having the worst day of their lives.
Your role is vital to our community in this distinct way, and you are to be commended for taking up this challenge.
Our Council tries hard to make sure that you have the tools - the assets - to do your job efficiently & safely.
However, the single most valuable asset in this organization is you; it is the human asset, and without it Killam Fire Department does not exist. It is your commitment to take the time & effort to deliver this service that makes Killam Fire Department what it is.
We applaud your effort, we applaud your dedication, and we thank you for all that you do for Killam & community.
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