GLENDON – On Saturday night, the Glendon RCMP Century Hall was packed with firefighters, local dignitaries and community members wanting to support the Glendon Fire Department at its third annual Firemen’s Fall Ball.
The event helped mark the fire department’s 60-ish anniversary. The fire station hit 60 years of operation in 2021, but due to pandemic health measures the annual ball could not be held resulting in the missed milestone.
The packed audience and jovial spirit more than made up for the two years of celebrations missed.
Capt. Kevin Walker with the Glendon Fire Department, shared with the audience the incredible benefits of being a volunteer firefighter – comradery, connecting with the community and youth, being there to support individuals in a time of need, but he didn’t shy away from the challenges the firefighters face either.
“We are there at some of the worst days of people’s lives, and sometimes those stories don’t always have happy endings, and you see things you don’t ever want to see,” Walker told the audience.
“We have responded to a couple of tough calls this year. One Peter (Neufeld) referred to earlier, where we had to use extraction tools and then later that day, we had another call that our members responded to that involved little people.”
Walker added it is because of the station and the Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority’s commitment to debrief with its members and to provide support that makes Glendon’s firefighters able to continue the work they do in the community.
“Being a part of a regional department where mental health and PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder) is in the forefront makes a difference,” said Walker.
So far this year, Glendon’s 23 volunteer firefighters have responded to over 50 calls. In years past, Station Fire Chief Dan Amalia said the number of calls would be half the volume they are seeing now.
Providing assistance to emergency medical first responders has caused the greatest jump in calls that volunteer firefighters respond to.
Walker added, “During a time when people are busier than ever before, to have so many members join our ranks is incredible to see. We keep asking more and more of them and they keep showing up.”
Holmatro Golden Pin
A special pin was also awarded to eight Glendon firefighting members who attended a serious vehicle collision where STARS Air Ambulance was required, and extraction tools had to be used.
“Holmatro would like to take this opportunity to personally recognize your life-saving actions on the 28th day of May 2022,” stated the manufacturing company in a letter to the department.
The fire department later learned the patient involved in the collision survived as a result of the first responders’ actions.
Those recognized were Station Chief Amalia, Laryssa Hansen, Mike Skoreyko, Ed Watrich, Lyle Davis, Jim Dillon, Taylor Snyder and Peter Neufeld.
Remembering those that came before
During the event, special acknowledgement was paid to retired firefighters that have passed away since the last formal event held by the Glendon Fire Station.
Those remembered included retired Fire Chief Harvey Kryzanowski, firefighter Johnnie Doonanco and firefighter Kacey Daniels.
