The community's first responders were honoured at a high energy, efficiently presented Rider-themed event Saturday, hosted by the Battlefords Ministerial Association.
Over the course of two hours, more than 175 complimentary steaks were served and consumed, along with hot dogs for the youngsters attending with the families. A rapid fire prize presentation made sure few went home without a Rider-themed gift, and for those whose numbers weren’t called, there were "game day" cans of pop as a consolation prize.
A light show and ever-changing music selection kept things moving along as personnel from WPD Ambulance, Battleford Fire Department, North Battleford Fire Department and North Battleford Community Safety Officers and their families enjoyed their complimentary meals.
It was the second First Responders Appreciation event to be hosted by the Battlefords Ministerial Association at St. Vital Parish Hall. Organizers called on the business community as well as individuals to contribute funds or door prizes with more than 30 entries on the special thanks list. Volunteers cooked and baked and the John Paul II Mission Team helped with the presentation of door prizes as well as serving and refilling drinks among the tables.
The evening began with host Keith Klippenstein laying out the order of events for everyone and calling on Fr. Greg Elder for a blessing.
"We thank all of you, all of you, for the sacrifice you make for us every day," said Fr. Greg. "We are keenly aware of it and we pray for your safety each day."
Door prize hosts Perry Neufeld and Pat Carty, or Bob and Bob as they referred to themselves, announced the winners throughout the evening.
It was the eve of the Grey Cup, so game predictions were in order. A panel was assembled representing the four first responders groups to announce their picks, with Neufeld inviting them to do their best Matt Dunigan impressions.
Called up to announce their respective departments' Grey Cup predictions were Braeden Ferch of WPD Ambulance (21-17 Redblacks), Doug Lachapelle of the RCMP (35-17 Eskimos), Neil Good of the Battleford Fire Department (49-15 Eskimos), Brett Gore-Hickman of the North Battleford Fire Department (31-21 Eskimos) and Paul Sirman of the North Battleford Safety Officers (35-10 Redblacks).
Klippenstein said the winning group was to get fresh Christmas baking delivered to their office. The winning group last year was the RCMP. (This year's winner turned out to be the North Battleford Fire Department, last year's runner up.)
There was also a chance for each individual at the supper to hand in their own prediction to receive a prize of a $100 gift certificate.
Representatives of the City of North Battleford and the Town of Battleford were also on hand to offer their thanks to the community's first responders.
Ryan Bater, deputy mayor of the City of North Battleford, underlined the importance of a community's first responders.
"When people talk about what they want and need in their community, the list can get pretty long – swimming pools, theatres, green grass in the parks, streets without potholes, it can go on and on," he said. "If people were to prioritize that list, the one thing we would all agree on, everybody in this community, the number one thing on everybody's list would be the same, and that is that we want to feel safe."
He said the community wants to know that, in an emergency, somebody will be there to help them.
"That somebody is you," he said. "We know that you are the ones who, when you leave home to go to work, you say goodbye to your families and you have no idea what's going to happen that day. An emergency of tragedy could happen at any time and we know you have to prepare yourself mentally, physically and emotionally for anything that could happen."
He continued, "You are the people who answer the most noble of callings on our planet, because you are the people who help other people and you help those people, often times in their most dire hour of need."
Bater said the magnitude of the first responder's role is so great he was actually at a loss to describe it.
"I'm just going to keep it very simple, on behalf of the citizens of North Battleford, thank you, thank you for everything you do, no matter what role, you play, thank you."
Mayor Derek Mahon of Battleford acknowledged everyone who attended and all the people involved in putting on the event, especially the sponsors and the Battlefords Ministerial Association, and thanked the first responders.
"I'd like to acknowledge all the fire departments, the police department, the ambulance people that are here and just thank you, as Ryan had mentioned, for all you do for our community. You keep us all safe, and you'll always be there when we are in some need."
Mahon added a special thanks to the individuals from the two fire departments in the community who went north to La Ronge this summer to fight forest fires there.
"We would like to thank them for that, for all the time and effort they put into it," he said.
In organizing the event, the ministerial association said, "The challenges facing the Battlefords and area first responders on a daily basis are becoming more and more complex. The situations our police, peace officers, fire and ambulance personnel are thrust into, be it challenging criminal activity, family violence, fire and motor vehicle accidents, tragedies and accidents of all kinds require quick, decision making and immediate response. Besides the usual victims, the first responders can also face personal mental anguish or encounter physical risk and harm, some with long term implications."
Tyrone Bird, who provided the light show and music, addressed the issue of how their jobs affect first responders. The pastor of the two-year-old Moosomin Native Fellowship said, "This is a huge honour for me to be a First Nation man who lives in Moosomin reserve to say thank you for all you do. I understand that many of you may carry trauma from your jobs, so if that's cool, I'd like to pray for you guys."
A moment of silence was observed for a local paramedic who took his own life this past March. He was engaged to Cst. Jill Jones, formerly of the Battlefords detachment of the RCMP, said Klippenstein.
"I was in touch with Jill this week. She has since moved out to Vancouver Island and is resettling in a new detachment there and getting to know people, and that's her home area," he said. "She wanted to convey appreciation for all the support that was given her from this community, so on behalf of Jill, I want to thank all of you who supported her through the loss of Jack."
The experience of Ken and Terry Dakin whose son Blaine died when struck by lightning in 2008 was related by the couple as a tribute to first responders. (See separate story)
Pastor Al Huckabay said it was his privilege to introduce the couple he had come to know in his last four years with Living Faith Chapel. He said Ken served for 35 years with the RCMP, in the Battlefords and elsewhere across the province.
"They are sharing a personal story that took place in their lives where the services that are offered and what you do for your community they found firsthand experience in needing help."
Huckabay said, "We recognize the sacrifice that each of you make in your jobs, that in the task you do there is a sacrifice that you make for us as a community, a sacrifice that you do with family and I felt tonight, as Terry and Ken were sharing that, there is a sacrifice that takes place."
He said, "You need to be able to share and talk with the emotion that is there from all of those situations, so we want to pray with you and pray over you in all of the positions you have."
