On December 11, 2015 a community came together to create a true miracle on Baker Street.

Twenty of Cranbrook’s most ambitious and daring business owners and managers dropped their trousers in support of the Salvation Army’s Homeless Shelter Project. With subzero temperatures, the men stood out on the dampened street for four hours. They participated in a multitude of activities to not only fundraise and entertain the crowd, but to keep their blood flowing and bodies warm.

What started as a goal of $10,000, then ambitiously raised to $20,000 the day before recruitment of men started; the men shattered the goal on the day of the event by raising close to $60,000 once funds finished flowing in.

While Cranbrook residents took notice of the generosity of their fellow community members, they were not the only ones. On May 19, the British Columbia Association of Broadcasters awarded Total Country B104 and The Kootenay’s Best Rock the Drive with the Community Service Award of Excellence for their efforts in creating Miracle on Baker Street.

“We are so thankful to have had the opportunity to work with the Salvation Army, the Cranbrook and District Community Foundation, and e-KNOW on this joint effort to raise money for the Salvation Army’s Homeless Shelter Project,” says B104 Total Country and The Drive General Manager, Leo Baggio. “Community service has been the foundation of our stations, so we are truly humbled by this award.”

The event had the community rallying, as over 40 local businesses got involved in the event through participation and sponsorship. Local media, including e-KNOW, The Advertiser, the Townsman, and SNAPd East Kootenay all came on board to support the event through media promotion.

“Miracle on Baker Street was a perfect example of how local businesses and media can use their influence to do something positive in our community,” added Baggio, “We are thankful for all who came on board to support this project, and those who continue the work to build awareness of the importance of the Salvation Army’s Homeless Shelter Project and those who will benefit from the project. We of course are especially thankful for all who donated to this important cause.

Total Country B104 also received the prestigious BCSPCA Media Excellence Award at the BCSPCA gala in Abbottsford on May 6.

“B104 goes above and beyond to promote the BC SPCA East Kootenay Branch and to give B.C.’s most vulnerable animals a voice,” says BC SPCA East Kootenay Branch manager Brenna Baker. “The animals at the East Kootenay SPCA could not have truer, more generous or more caring friends than the team at B104.”

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