The bulk of the membership of the Jaffray Volunteer Fire Department received service and training medals during a special unit dinner Tuesday, Oct. 4.

Regional District of East Kootenay Electoral Area B director and recently acclaimed Union of B.C. Municipalities board chair Heath Slee was on hand to present the awards.

Slee commended the department members for their ongoing efforts to keep their community safe.

“I want to really express the deepest gratitude on behalf of the community on the work you do. You do an exemplary service to your community and I know how much your community appreciates you,” he told the gathering of firefighters and family at the Jaffray fire hall.

“I know the countless hours you put in and you are all deserving,” he said.

The first procession of awards was handed to six firefighters who completed training in the past year.

Firefighters Sandy De Jong, Jolene Gorrie and Clint Ewasiuk received awards for finishing basic firefighter training and Kyle Neidig, JP Braaten and fire chief Dave Boreen received awards for Firefighter Two training. Neidig’s award was accepted by fellow firefighter Colton Ray.

Following that ceremony, Slee handed out service awards for most of the members of the department, ranging from two months to 16 years. In addition, there was a “theme” as Boreen pointed out, with family members (Carlyle and Clark) earning service awards.

The awards for the firefighters were duffle bags with the fire department’s emblem on the side.

The next evening, Boreen handed out more service medals to the members of the Baynes Lake Volunteer Fire Department, including two exemplary service awards (a medal and certificate from the Governor General) to Burt Tiffin and Greg Harris, both for 20 years’ service.

Greg and Burt helped develop the Baynes Lake department,” Boreen noted. “Their commitment to training is a big thing for us,” he said.

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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