NIPAWIN — A green heart and a gold heart painted on the arms of the mayors of Nipawin and Humboldt was evidence of a bond forged by a horrible collision.
The Town of Nipawin organized an event in Central Park to thank those first responders that attended the April 6 collision at the Armley corner.
Rennie Harper, Nipawin’s mayor, said the event came together after magician Roger Boucher phoned after the accident, wanting to help. To her, it made sense to have Boucher entertain a whole lot of people.
“We wanted to do something to thank the first responders – and it’s not just Nipawin’s first responders, it’s all of these other communities: Zenon Park, Tisdale. How do you thank them? How do the people from Humboldt and the government, how do they thank them? That’s how it grew.”
Rob Muench, Humboldt’s mayor, said Nipawin organized the event on a day he was able to attend. He came with a few members of his council.
“I wanted to come up here as well too, to try and say thanks to the first responders that helped the team and helped that night. It couldn’t have been an easy task for them. I felt it was really important that we come up here and I encouraged our city councillors to come up as well.”
Also at the event were Prince Albert MP Randy Hoback, Carrot River Valley MLA Fred Bradshaw and Melfort MLA Todd Goudy.
Muench said it must have been hard for the first responders that attended the scene and that he couldn’t imagine what they went through. He said he’s been personally thanking as many first responders at the event as he could recognize.
“We never say thanks nearly enough to people that look after us when we’re in trouble: the hospitals and the ambulance people, first responders, doctors, nurses. That’s what I’m going to try to do today.”
The Humboldt mayor said that support from regular citizens has also been amazing, with many approaching him and shaking his hand, patting his back or hugging him, telling him that they’re supporting his city, something that helps get though the tragedy.
“I think I’ve had more hugs in the last month than I’ve had in my whole life to that point. It’s been incredible.”
It was Harper that was one of the first people to contact Muench on that fateful day.
“When Rennie phoned me, she said how bad it was and I think from that point our two communities have developed a bond that’s going to be hard to compare,” he said. “Their team played for the Broncos after we weren’t able to. They wore the green helmets. I think it’s brought us closer as communities.”
“We recognize that we have things in common,” Harper said. “We recognize that we’re rivals on the ice but we’re twins in the rest of life.”
Muench said he hopes the relationship between the two communities and their hockey teams is recognized on the ice next season.
“I’m kind of hoping the opening game of the SJHL season will be between Humboldt and Nipawin,” he said.
“I can’t see two better teams to get out there and play that first game in the fall.”
The event also raised almost $5,000 for a bursary for future first responders.
“We’re going to set up a fund where future firefighters and EMS folks can apply to help them with their education,” Harper said.
“We’ll continue to raise money for it and we’ll continue for it to grow.”
Harper said the event was a success, with lots of children present and people of all ages from different communities interacting with people they might not have otherwise. She said she wanted to acknowledge the donors, town staff and attendees that made the event possible.
“I hope in some way, we’ll continue to do this again, perhaps not for these reasons, but I think we should come together in the park more often.”
Muench said a community-based, outdoor event with a positive focus is something he wanted to replicate in Humboldt some time during the summer.
“This is probably a really good blueprint of what we want to do there.”
