From the left, front row: NS Fire Chief Nancy-Ann Gauthier, Enbridge Gas Ontario Representative Chris Brennan. Firefighter Shawna Roy. Middle row: NS Mayor François Landry, Executive Director, Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Jamie Kovacs, NS Public Education Officer Corey Boisvert, CAO/Clerk Craig Calder. Back row: NS CAO/Clerk Chad Brownlee, NS Councillor Charles Shane, NS Councillor Adrian Bugelli, NS Deputy Mayor Steve Densham and NS Councillor Alison McDonald. Thompson Goddard Photo

BERWICK – North Stormont Fire Services were presented with training materials purchased from a $5,000 grant provided by Enbridge Gas Ontario (EGO) prior to the council meeting on Tues., Dec. 16.

The funds were made available through the Enbridge Gas “Safe Community Project Assist”, with Chris Brennan, EGO Senior Advisor and Stakeholder Engagement, commenting this year 25 fire departments across Ontario have received or will be receiving grants of $5,000 to purchase training materials.

“On behalf of Council and our community, thank you to Enbridge Gas for this generous $5,000 donation toward firefighter training materials. Safety is a value we share, and this support helps ensure our firefighters have the knowledge and resources they need to train effectively and keep our community safe.” said NS Mayor François Landry.

Brennan explained the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council facilitates the applications to the program each year and commented how “they are really great partners for this program.” He noted how 394 grants have been awarded to fire departments across the province since the program began 13 years ago.

“Safety is at the heart of everything we do at Enbridge Gas–it’s one of our core values we live by,” said Brennan in a Dec. 11 press release from the Township of North Stormont. He continued “We’re proud to support Ontario firefighters with emergency response training that helps them strengthen their skills, stay prepared, and continue protecting the vibrant communities they serve.” Jon Pegg, Chair of the FMPFSC and the Ontario Fire Marshal, commented how the program provides fire departments to have access to the materials needed by firefighters to ensure both their safety and the safety of the community they protect.

North Stormont Fire chief Nancy-Ann Gauthier expressed her thanks for the “generous donation and for your continued partnership. She continued that by working together, “we’re building stronger training, stronger firefighters, and a safer community.” She noted the NS Fire Department is a composed of volunteer firefighters operating out of fire stations located in Moose Creek, Avonmore, Finch and Crysler and “dedicated to the safety of our community.” It was explained by Gauthier how volunteer firefighters “train to the same level as career firefighters” and “their heart for service reaches far beyond the call of duty, and we are grateful every day for the commitment and compassion they bring to the people they protect.”

Brennan concluded his interview with The Record by mentioning how the program helps to ensure that firefighters work in as safe as environment as possible and assists in ensuring the training materials are current.