Courtesy: Town of High Level
Firefighters celebrated at annual firefighter’s ball
A long three years, but for members of the High Level Fire Department, their families, friends, and their supporters, it was worth the wait. On Saturday, October 1, The Fifty-Fourth Annual Firefighter’s Ball was held at the High Level Best Western Mirage. The event is an opportunity to celebrate the efforts and achievements of the fire department over the past year as well as hand out awards for long service and exceptional service.
Mayor Crystal McAteer thanked those in attendance for coming out and giving thanks to the High Level Fire Department for their efforts. She also thanked members of the fire department for being “Heroes and Sheroes” in the community. “Whether you’re receiving an award tonight or not, I want you to know that you are winners just for volunteering. Thank you for allowing me to acknowledge my gratitude to every one of you and tell you how extremely proud the Town of High Level Council is of you and the service you provide to our community. We are proud of your excellent record in promoting safety and minimizing risk. Thank you, also, for your prevention efforts, for educating our community, and
your commitment to best practices.” “Thank you for being an important part of our community.” Walter Sarapuk, Deputy Reeve for Mackenzie County representing Ward 8, thanked the High Level Fire Department and staff on behalf of the County and their residents for their efforts at keeping residents in the region safe. “I’d like to thank you for spending hours of your time training so that when the call comes, you are ready to go to save lives and homes,” he said. “It is reassuring to know that when we call 911, someone will come.”
He also took a moment to recognize firefighters with long service records, noting there was no substitute for experience. Finally, he noted the importance of volunteer fire departments as a community wide effort by noting the sacrifices made by businesses that employ fire fighters. In thanking staff and the fire department for their service, CAO Clark McAskile noted the specific burdens placed on the emergency responders in the region due to the failures of provincial and federal governments to supply the necessary resources to deliver on promised services.
“When provincial organizations fail, the burden is shifted to the Town of High Level,” he said. “(The HLFD) has stood at the front line, continuing to protect and serve the Town of High Level and its surrounding region and communities. You have persevered in your duties to protect not only our residents, but the hundreds of our neighbours displaced into our community by natural disaster. Your contribution to this community has been substantial and significant, and it has been tangible and real.”
Rodney Schmidt, Director of Emergency Services and High Level Fire Chief, spoke about the efforts of the fire department to continue to deal with growing emergencies in the region, as well as the need for more volunteers to assume the colours of the High Level Fire Department. He noted the evening served as an exceptional way to honour the efforts of the fire department over the course of the year.
“It was a great event,” he said. “It was nice to see the community together after three years of not having a firefighter’s ball. It was good to see the crowd that was there, and to come together to honour the work that our firefighters have accomplished.”
The following awards were handed out at the Fifty-Fourth Annual Firefighter’s Ball:
Long Service (Five Years):
Alaura Wardley and Craig Morris
Firefighter of the Year:
Jake Walch
Rookie of the Year:
Peter Rossouw
Officer of the Year:
Rodney Schmidt
Keith Hopper, Trending 55
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