Fire Department Ball Remarks

Saturday evening I was honoured to be invited to the Fire Department's Ball. It was a lovely evening celebrating another successful and trying year. The successful part of the year is that they responded to the most calls in their history. The trying part was that they had the fewest fighters in years.

2013-2014 Kindersley Fire Department posing with the Grey Cup

The fire department is often taken for granted and under appreciated. For all that they do, and cope with, how is thanks expressed?

Here is the outline of my remarks. Just a note: often my remarks vary from what I wrote.

·         Good evening ladies and gentlemen

·         Thank you for coming to the Firemen’s Ball

·         These men and women are a part of what makes Kindersley great

·         It their dedication, sacrifice, energy, and time that makes this department as good as it is

·         However, we can’t overlook the cornerstone of this: their families and employers

·         Our brigade is a non-career brigade meaning that their services are at the expense of family time and work

·         The fire department has been responding to emergencies since 1910 with the support of their families and employers

·         It only seems like David Burke has been responding since 1910 but he has only been doing it for 36 years while Chief Hope has been responding for 33 years

·         Responding to emergencies has costs: stresses to families and stresses to employers

·         On behalf of the residents of the Town of Kindersley and Council, I want to thank the spouses and children for your grace and generosity as your spouse or parent leaves in the middle of golf, tv, dinner, and night to respond to an emergency

·         To the employers, on behalf of the residents and Council of the Town of Kindersley I want to thank you for your support

·         Your support is a hidden cost but it is not unrecognized nor is it unappreciated

·         It is because of these silent sacrifices made by Members of the Fire Department, their families and their employers that Kindersley is so well served

·         It cannot be overemphasized how appreciative we are to our Fire Department, their families and their employers, for your dedication and commitment to keeping us all safe

·         Again, thank you and be safe.