After years in development, Chestermere’s Station #59 held its grand opening on June 18.
A fired up crowd packed the immaculate new building to see the place where some of the town’s finest call home. The public was joined by several dignitaries from Rocky View Fire Services and the Town of Chestermere.
“I’d like to thank you all for coming today to celebrate the opening of our emergency services centre,” said deputy mayor Kelsey Johnson, who emceed the event. “This will be the centrepiece of community for years to come.”
Johnson later said the town has grown in size, so there’s been a need for increased fire and emergency services.
“No longer will our firefighters need to keep their trucks outside or sleep in a trailer,” he said. “This new hall will make it a lot easier for them to readily respond to emergencies.”
The $4.5-million project was funded by a grant from the provincial government and took approximately 18 months to complete after getting the green light from Town Council.
The new building includes a meeting room, bigger kitchen and eating areas, red epoxy floor in the bays, drive-through bay, gym, training tower, fire pole and seven dorm rooms with capacity for up to 14 firefighters.
As previously hinted by organizers, the event featured an unusual ribbon-cutting ceremony. Mayor Patricia Matthews, as well as Johnson and Rocky View County Fire Chief Ken McMullen, and retired fire chiefs Roy Berg and Wayne Paquette drove the trucks through a red ribbon hung across the bay doors.
The celebration also included a BBQ, an open house and kids’ activities.
“We are thrilled to offer our firefighters a new place to call home,” Matthews said. “And, it was great that the community came out to celebrate with us.”
