It was a project the current Town Council in Ming’s Bight saw as something that was crucial to the community when they were elected three years ago, and decided to put a driving force behind the moment they took power.
The community’s fire truck was in need of replacing, and it wasn’t going to get done by people sitting around and talking about it all day.
“This is something we took on as a council, because it was something badly needed for the town,” said Mayor Danny Regular. He and council set out on its mission of securing the truck back in 2009, although they were aware that their undertaking was going to be no walk in the park.
Regular says the mission of replacing their 1982 modified Ford F-150 pick-up fire truck was a five year plan, in reality, since they first started lobbying Government to convince them of the need for the new vehicle a number of years ago.
“It was a lot of meetings,” he said. “A lot of phone calls – a lot of talking and convincing that this was something we needed.”
Regular explained that proving that a new truck was something they needed was one of the criteria they needed to meet to even be considered by the Provincial Government for a 90/10 cost share towards the new vehicle. In addition to that, he said, they had to show their fire department was active, that they provided training, and had good attendance in anything fire department related, such as regular meetings.
In their opinion, he said, they met all those conditions, and then some. Although, word still didn’t come on the new truck.
Three years ago, the town began aggressively fundraising – in faith that one day the new truck would come, and knowing they would need to bring their own portion to the table in the event they were approved.
“We started fundraising before anything was ever announced or it was even decided that we’d get our truck,” he explained. The town knew their need, and were determined to see it met.
In total, they raising roughly $30,000 dollars in three years through a number of means and ways. Members of the Fire Department worked tirelessly selling tickets, cookbooks, and hosting events that would see them closer and closer to their goal.
In addition to the fundraisers, a number of key donations also came in that allowed the Department to see the end of their goal. The local Harbour Authority gave $1000 dollars and Rambler Mines gave $2500 dollars.
But the biggest contribution came from Anaconda Mine, who chipped in $10,000 dollars to the cause.
Mayor Regular says that the town are first responders to Anaconda, and that their contribution went a long way to see them accomplish their goals.
“We really have to thank Anaconda, in a big way, because they really came on board and helped us out with this project.”
With the money now raised, it was now a matter of waiting and hoping that word would soon come from Government that a new truck was awarded to them.
“Kevin Pollard, our MHA really did a lot of work on our behalf with this. He had meeting after meeting, phone call after phone call – by the end of it he must have been sick of hearing from us,” Regular said jokingly.
Finally, in January of last year, word came that the town had been approved for a new tanker truck, valued at over $219,000 dollars. The truck finally arrived in Late December, and the keys were officially handed over by MHA Kevin Pollard to a grateful town and fire department.
It marked the end of a long road that lead to a great result, thanks to the work of a lot of people.
“We really want to thank everyone who made this possible,” concluded Regular. “This is great for our town, and we’re excited with the results.”
editor@thenorwester.ca
