March 8 marked the second annual Niverville Health Foundation and Firefighters Ball. The fundraising event provides the public with a fun evening out while creating an opportunity to make a charitable donation to local healthcare and fire service needs.
About 110 people enjoyed the multi-course dinner and dancing with a live band at the Heritage Centre. Niverville Health and Community Foundation board member George Sawatzky, says that while attendance numbers were down from last year, they were still able to contribute $5,000 to Niverville’s Fire and EMS Services. An additional $2,500 donation was made by the Niverville Credit Union.
Niverville Fire Chief Keith Bueckert is pleased with the donation, which will be channelled toward the purchase of more self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs) and refill bottles. While the department already owns 14 SCBAs, he hopes to increase that number to 20 in the next few years, enough to provide almost every member with a unit.
Sawatzky says that the Niverville Health and Community Foundation recognized this need when the firefighters were called out to a fire at the Great Canadian Dollar Store while it was still under construction last year. A limited number of firefighters were able to safely enter the building due to a lack of SCBAs.
“That was a small fire,” Sawatzky says. “If it ever happened that, God forbid, one of these larger apartment buildings or the life lease went up in smoke, they’ll need more of them.”
The TransCanada Pipeline company also stepped up with a further donation of $10,000.
“The TransCanada donation will be used to properly equip our new rescue [vehicle to carry] our rescue and medical equipment and SCBAs,” says Bueckert. “The proper shelving and trays will be purchased to have the truck functional and safe for our members and equipment.”
The event also provided an opportunity to honour local firefighters and EMS volunteers with long-term service awards. Two recipients received 20-year service awards, firefighter Greg Rempel and EMS volunteer Susan Shaver for her combined commitment to both the Swan River and Niverville departments.
Merrick Sandulak, Jason Hudson, Steve Kehler, and Eric Turenne all received their five-year service awards.
“Niverville Fire and Emergency Services is extremely grateful to the ongoing support of the Niverville Health and Community Foundation,” Bueckert says. “Also to TransCanada [Pipeline] for their support again.”