Firefighters from Shawville and Clarendon and their families gathered on Saturday night for the fire department’s annual ball.
Attendees enjoyed an evening of music, drink, and conversation. The dance floor was a favourite location of the night, as some folks slow-danced and do-si-doed to Danny Sylvester Band’s nostalgic renditions of rock and country classics, while others mingled at the bar.
The music died only briefly so the department could honour its firefighters’ important milestones by way of plaques awarded for their years of service.
Dave Thomson was recognized for 15 years, while Joe McCleary and Julien Gagnon were each recognized for 10 years of service. Greg Hayes is celebrating his 25th year with the fire department, but he was unable to attend the ball.
Once the band started playing again, ball-goers . . .
danced the night away.
This event has taken place every year since at least 1963, held annually to celebrate the achievements and community service of fire department members.
But Chief Lee Laframboise says it’s hard these days to find people who want to serve.
“We don’t have people kicking down the door to get in here anymore,” he said, citing the large time commitment that is required of firefighters.
The ball, though, still seems to draw a crowd. It used to be held in the Shawville Lions Club, but it outgrew that venue two years ago.
“We get between 100 to 200 people every year,” said firefighter Tim O’Malley, explaining attendance numbers grew too large, forcing a move to the Shawville Agricultural Hall.
The event also featured a raffle, with prizes donated by local businesses. Laframboise expressed his gratitude to the sponsors for their contributions, noting it is in part through generosity like theirs that the department is able to grow.
“Just last year we bought a 75-foot ladder truck,” he said. “Two weeks ago we put in an order for breathing air compressors with higher pressure.”
The department is still tallying the total money raised by the ball, and Laframboise said he hopes the money raised can go toward continuing to improve the department’s equipment stock.
by K.C. Jordan
Shawville
May 25, 2024
