On Parliament Hill

A while back, I asked Provencher residents to send in stories and nominate people as community heroes. People who, despite the current circumstances, have gone above and beyond to serve their community.

The South East Whiteshell Fire Department is comprised of 37 non-paid volunteers: 13 Executive Members and 26 Fire Fighters.

This team provides close to 5000 volunteer hours, annually, often under the most grueling of circumstances. Their executive team also contributes more than 1000 volunteer hours, annually.

Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, these brave men and women have risen to that challenge and continued to provide excellent service to their region.

During an average twelve-month period, the volunteers of the South East Whiteshell Fire Department would attend approximately fifty 9-1-1 calls. However, this past summer alone, these brave men and women have already responded to 39 calls, including:

• Three fatal accidents
• One vehicle rollover
• Six lost/injured hikers
• Three vehicle fires
• Two EMS Assists
• Two boaters in distress
• A two-year-old on a floater drifting away
• A fuel spill at a gas station
• Fourteen hydro pole fires (nine of them in a 4-hour period between 6 pm and 10:30 pm Sunday Sept 6th, 2020)

These brave volunteers sign on to hold the nozzle end of the hose, whatever the weather. To be abruptly awakened in the middle of the night. To have a family dinner interrupted, miss birthdays, and sweat like never before. To risk their own health, in some cases their own lives. They have gone above and beyond this year and are truly community heroes.

As MP for Provencher, I want to thank them – and all our brave first responders – for their service to our community.