Reopening ceremony for Islands and District fire hall Saturday

A grand reopening ceremony is scheduled for this Saturday (Nov. 17) at 1 p.m., with an open house to follow until 4 p.m.

The ceremony and open house will be held just four days after the one-year anniversary of the blaze that delivered “a devastating blow to our fire department,” says a letter of invitation to Saturday’s activities jointly signed by officials with the department and its women’s auxiliary.

As a result of the Nov. 13, 2006 fire, “We were crippled to the point that we were inoperative,” they say. “We had nothing left but the spirit to rebuild with the goal of becoming bigger and better. We have become bigger and are committed to getting better.”

They note that the hard work of the past year has paid off and that they are back in the fire hall, the department having received its occupancy permit last month.

Early in the process of recovering from the fire, department officials remarked how much support they had received from both the local community and elsewhere, including offers by other fire departments to lend or donate firefighting equipment.

Grateful for the help they received then, they remain thankful today, as expressed in the letter of invitation to the fire hall reopening from Islands and District fire chief John Surette, deputy chief Jamey Boucher, administrative chairperson Earl Muise and women’s auxiliary representative Juliette Bourque.

“It was through the efforts of everyone involved that we are where we are today,” they say.

Last year’s fire hall blaze occurred just eight days after the Islands and District fire department held an event commemorating its 25th anniversary.