The volunteer-run Redwood Meadows Firefighters Association will be dissolving its charitable status over the coming months and looking to create efficiencies by running fundraising efforts directly through the fire department.
“The members of the association are mostly firefighters, so people are balancing full-time jobs, families, activities and volunteer firefighting – which is hundreds of hours a year – and this on top of all of that,” said association president Gary Robertson.
“We are grateful and appreciative for all the support from the community.”
The association was established in 2003 – at a time when the Redwood Meadows Emergency Services (RMES) was in need of major equipment and vehicle inventory and a separate entity to take the lead on these fundraising efforts.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised since the association’s inception – purchasing equipment, inventory and expanding into mental health fundraising initiatives in recent years.
One of the large-ticket items the association was able to help purchase for the department was its new rescue truck in 2012.
As Robertson explains, the association has run its course and can safely say it’s been a job well done.
Robertson explained that the volunteer fire department, with some 40 full- and part-time members, is “in a good position” and the efforts of volunteers to keep the association going in a holding position are proving more exhaustive on volunteers than efficient.
The RMES primary response areas include Bragg Creek and Redwood Meadows, but the department does assist Rocky View Fire and Cochrane Fire in surrounding areas.
“Maintaining a registered charity is a large amount of work,” he said in a recent press release. “The members felt that this was the most sustainable and responsible direction for us to take in alignment with our mandate: Our Firefighters. Our Department. Our Community.”
Between the post-flood devastation of 2013 that saw many Creeker businesses button up their storefronts and the economic downturn, Robertson said fundraising has been on the decline for the association.
Last fall, the association postponed its fundraising gala until this spring due to low ticket sales. Further challenges with putting on the spring event resulted in its cancellation – and bolstered the association’s discussion to move forward with dissolving its charitable status.
Next steps include the formation of a dissolution committee to account for and dispersal of all assets – including the roughly $35,000 that was fundraised in 2014 to build a training centre – on hold for the time being.
The association is known for its annual Heroes in the Sky event, which takes place each September– where firefighters clamber atop of Bragg Creek Foods to camp out with activities taking place on the ground below.
Association members also take part in regular community celebrations, such as serving up flapjacks at the Redwood Meadows Canada Day festivities and Bragg Creek Days.
Follow their progress at Facebook.com/FirefightersAssociation.
