Firefighters fundraise for quality of life

April 17, 2018

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The Equity

The BGCP Fire Department held their fifth Firefighters’ Ball on April 14, seeing close to 200 people fill the Calumet Island municipal hall, as the crew looks to fundraise for a variety of projects. From left: Pat Mulligan, Neil Derouin, Frédéric Lance, Corey Derouin, Mario Tremblay, Martin Bertrand, Eric Harrington, Jason Beaudoin, Wayne Cameron, Marcel Newberry, Gerald Stewart, Philip Stewart, Nick Cameron, Tadd McCallum, Ryan Fletcher, Kyle Dufault, and Shawn Griffith. Missing from the picture is: Shawn Bowie, Daniel Corriveau, Darcy Burnett, and Jeremy Labine.

Donald Teuma-Castelletti
CALUMET ISLAND April 14, 2018
An annual firefighters’ dance filled the municipal hall on Calumet Island Saturday night, where the mission that evening was more than just cutting some rug.
Close to 200 people joined the first responders at the hall, as the fifth Bryson, Grand-Calumet and Portage-du-Fort (BGCP) Firefighters’ Ball took place, fundraising to improve their tools and community outreach for the fire department.
“We’re raising funds to increase the quality of life of firefighters in our department,” said Eric Harrington, director general for the BGCP Fire Department.
What that means for the department is a wide variety of goals, clarified Harrington. While money raised in their efforts may assist with donations, other times it may go to increasing the buying power of the municipality when it comes to equipment.

“For example, taxpayers afford us the minimum requirements for gear,” continued Harrington. “We’d throw in the extra cash to get better equipment, to do our job best.”
Through their fundraising, he explained, a better axe could be afforded, meaning that it’s more durable or serves multiple purposes while dealing with an emergency, ensuring they can do their jobs to the best of their ability.
As well, through their fundraising, the BGCP Fire Department can give back to their communities, including a recent donation to St. Anne Elementary School on Calumet Island. The department could afford donating $1,500 for the school’s initiative of building a new play structure in the schoolyard.
“It’s all about keeping costs low so that taxpayers aren’t on the hook for overzealous costs,” said Harrington. “That’s what [the fundraising] is about.”
Of course, beyond supporting the fire department’s initiatives, there was plenty more reason to join the crew down at the hall – including nearly $900 worth of prizes.
“We’ve got over 40 door prizes to give away,” said Harrington.
Next up for the department, the community can look forward to a fishing derby put on in early summer.
“Thanks to residents of our municipalities, and municipalities, for their support,” said firefighter Jason Beaudoin.

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