July 30, 2014

100

Sidney Volunteer Fire Department

YEARS

OF COMMUNITY SERVICE

T

hey go towards places most people try to get away from. The heat, smoke and danger are not deterrents — such places are their workplace and have been for a century in the Town of Sidney and on the Saanich Peninsula.

They are firefighters and their job starts with a sense of civic duty.

And since most of these men and women are volunteers, their commitment to that duty is commendable.

The Sidney Volunteer Fire Department was first commissioned in 1913.

Funds were raised in the community for the most basic of equipment and protective gear and by 1914, the fire department was on the ground running.

Inside In August, the department celebrates its • Sidney Archives 100th anniversary, recognizing the many has a new book covering a century of changes in fire fighting over a century — local firefighting. from technology and training to personnel and support. One hundred years brings a lot • Sidney’s first of change but one thing remains the same — female firefighter is the volunteers’ commitment to their commustill responding to the call. nity. They work to help keep it safe and are always there when the call comes in, night • New honours: and day, for an emergency.

Volunteers know the The Sidney Volunteer Fire Department drill. essentially started with almost nothing, says Brad Morrison of the Sidney Archives. Mor• Generations: Father and son rison, Gail Petersen and Harry Nunn have share memories of created a book about the history of the local working together. department (more on that later), gleaned from the pages of the Peninsula News Review, • 100th anniversay the department itself and the municipality’s weekend events. archives.

“The Sidney Board of Trade at the time (1913),” said Morrison, “one of their first actions was to provide water for the town. Once that was done, they immediately worked to put together a fire brigade.”

It officially started in 1913 but Morrison said it took another year to raise around $500 to buy hose, a hose reel and other equipment. Businessmen were some of the first early contributors to the fund, in a community with a population of around 600 people. Sidney was five blocks deep and six blocks wide, so raising that kind of money 100 years ago was a large undertaking. The community raised the money and the fire department never looked back. Well, they did, in a manner of speaking. The firefighters held onto their history — they still have the very first hose reel purchased by the department. They recently got back one of their early fire trucks from 1935 from the Saanich Historical Artifacts Society. And they’ve had their other original truck, ‘Old Betsy’, for years. Volunteers have worked to get them into running order and they hope all of their historical gear will make an appearance in the 100th anniversary celebrations.

The Peninsula News Review presents this special section to help mark a century of civic service. The Sidney Volunteer Fire Department, through the hard work of Assistant Fire Chief Mike Harman — main organizer of the events August 1 and 2 — is ready to celebrate its long history and prepare for another 100 years of running towards danger.

Photo Illustration

Y E A RS OU Y K N A H T

thank you for 100 years and your tireless dedication to public safety and service

from your partners in caring for the Saanich Peninsula.

Sidney Volunteer Fire Department

100

YEARS Steven Heywood/News staff

Sidney Volunteer Fire Department. Volunteers and professional firefighters and staff work side-by-side in the community.

Century celebrations Aug. 1 & 2 Steven Heywood/News staff

The department still has its original hose reel from 1914.

This special section was produced by the Peninsula News Review Publisher: Jim Parker Editor: Steven Heywood Reporter: Devon MacKenzie Advertising: Karen Boudewyn

B2 • Sidney Fire 100 Years - July B2 • Sidney Fire 100 Years - July 30,2014 2014

Published by the Peninsula News Review for Black Press 6-9843 Second St., Sidney, B.C. V8L 3C7 250-656-1151 www.peninsulanewsreview.com

Months of hard work and organization are coming together August 1 and 2 in downtown Sidney for the fire department’s 100th anniversary.

Spearheading the celebration is Assistant Fire Chief Mike Harman. By the end of July, Harman said he had RSVPs from around 250 people for the firefighters gala on Saturday night, Aug. 2.

As well, he expects there to be close to 70 fire trucks entered in the parade that day. Starting at 11 a.m., the parade runs along Resthaven drive and down Beacon Avenue and features trucks old and new, classics and impressive vehicles and some of the historic gear the Sidney Volunteer Fire

100th Anniversary Weekend

Friday, August 1, 2014 6:30 p.m. • Firefighters from Vancouver Island and abroad meet and greet at the Mary Winspear Centre Saturday, August 2, 2014 8 - 9 a.m. • Late registration at the Mary Winspear Centre 11 a.m. • Fire Truck Parade begins down Beacon Avenue 12 - 4 p.m. • Truck Show and Shine, live demonstrations and open house at the Sidney fire hall on Third Street and Sidney Museum on Beacon Aveneue 6 p.m. • Firefighters Gala at the Mary Winspear Centre

Department has used over the last century. The parade ends with an open house at the fire hall on Third Street, a truck show and shine and live demonstrations for the whole family.

Trucks and crews, said Harman, are coming to Sidney from

across Vancouver Island, Vancouver, Salmon Arm and Kelowna, to name a few. Harman said people can expect to see some classics — like an 1899 Steamer — and brand new trucks, like North Saanich’s new vehicle purchased this year.

The gala event Saturday night at the Mary Winspear Centre is mainly for firefighters, their spouses and special guests. Harman said awards for long service will be handed out, their latest class of recruits will be recognized and the people who worked hard to build a solid community amongst the firefighters will be celebrated. Current and former members will be there, coming together to mark 100 years of history.

“I wanted to create a way of bringing us together,” Harman said.

Listen for Sidney’s old fire siren at 11 a.m. on Aug. 2 to kick off the parade.

We’ve come a long way too!

Thank you for serving our community for the past 100 years There is a lot of progress happening at the Airport! Check out our plans at www.victoriaairport.com

www.victoriaairport.com Your gateway to Vancouver Island.

Sidney Archives creates new book for SVFD 100th

Courtesy of Gail Pedersen and the Sidney Archives

By July of 1914, the Sidney Fire Brigade held its first meeting. They purchased hose and a horse-drawn hose reel — an artifact the department still has to this day — and set about protecting the community from fires.

“It’s a complicated story,” Morrison continued, “but we think we’ve presented it in the book in a readable manner.”

The book covers the more important milestones of the department’s 100 years, with a focus on the individuals to make it possible — from local businessmen who helped get it off the ground, to the local newspapermen who promoted it as a necessity in Sidney.

There are some interesting times over the last century, Morrison said. During the war years, volunteers (mostly men) were hard to come by, as many threw in with the war efforts.

“Overall, to the mid1940s, it was a struggle to get adequate equipment. A lot of people knocked on a lot of doors to raise money.”

Morrison said the community dedication stands out for him as essential to the department’s ongoing success.

They Never Fail to Respond will be available Aug. 1 and 2 at the fire department and following the weekend at Tanner’s Books.

Congratulations on Your 100 th Anniversary Dist�ict of Nor�h Saanich Mayor and Council, Fire Depar��ent, and staff send sincere cong�at�lations to the Town of Sidney Volunteer Fire Depar��ent in celebration of their 100th Anniversar�.

In our for�ative years as a municipalit�, we were for��nate to work with the Sidney Volunteer Fire Depar��ent and as the individual municipalities were established and separate fire depar��ents for�ed, a mut�al aid par��ership on the Saanich Peninsula was sig�ed.

Nor�h Saanich is honored to continue working with the Sidney Volunteer Fire Depar��ent and would like to wish the Town of Sidney Volunteer Fire Depar��ent many more successf�l years of ser�ice.

1914

It was on July 29 that the Sidney Fire Brigade held its first meeting. Fred M. Humber was declared the Chief. The Brigade had 600 feet of hose ($369), an up-to-date Wirt & Knox hose reel ($92), and three nozzles ($29.95) for a total of $490.95.

1935

The Brigade’s first fleet of vehicles would start in 1935 with a 1913 Cadillac touring car and followed in 1937 by a 1924 Packard touring car. Each was made into the Brigade’s first two fire engines — done by volunteers.

For the first time, they were fully mobile.

1959

In 1959, the Sidney Kinsmen Club helped purchase an ambulance to be put in charge of the Brigade. This would be a mainly free service for both North Saanich and Sidney. People were encouraged to donate when they had occasion to use it.

1995

This year saw the creation of the first paid position in the Brigade. Chief Dan Holder, who had been chief since 1993, would become the first. The importance of this position was related to the increasing complex world of fire fighting.

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B3 •• Sidney Sidney Fire Fire 100 100 Years Years -- July July 2014 30, 2014 B3

With all that has happened in Sidney and the Saanich Peninsula over the last 100 years — even as those events relate to the Sidney Volunteer Fire Department, one could fill a book.

That is exactly what the Sidney Archives have done.

The Archives, through Brad Morrison, Gail Pedersen and Harry Nunn, has produced They Never Fail to Respond: The Story of the Sidney Volunteer Fire Department, 1914-2014.

With plans to release the book over the first weekend of August (the department’s 100th anniversary celebration weekend), it’s a collection of the history and the people who built the department from the ground up.

“There are two key points in the book,” said Morrison.

“One, is to observe the history of various institutions and subjects within the community. Two, to provide an accurate history of the department. It’s an important time period in their history.”

Morrison said the fire brigade started from almost nothing. The idea was raised by the Sidney Board of Trade in 1913. It took a year of fundraising among the estimated 600 residents of the community, to come up with $500 to buy the necessary equipment.

Moments in Sidney Fire Brigade history

People from the Sidney Volunteer Fire Department

First female firefighter still active It takes a certain type of person to want to head towards danger and Anna Marie Trelford is one of those.

Currently a firefighter at the Victoria International Airport, Trelford made history in 1992 when, as a new recruit, she became the Sidney Volunteer Fire Department’s first female firefighter.

“I was 25, in great shape and I got dared to do it,” she said.

At the time, she explained, she was at a fire hall function.

While there, a firefighter dared her to join up. She quickly met that friendly challenge, knowing a little about the work and knowing the first aid part.

At that time, she said the department had a one-year probationary period during which time the recruits trained up and learned the policies and procedures to become a firefighter. Afterwards, she and the other 10 recruits were voted in.

“It wasn’t as competitive as it is now,” Trelford said.

She recalls she received a mixed reaction when she came on board, but said she was able to do the job required of her

Submitted photos

Anna Marie Trelford and her sons Nik and Joey Olsen, Below, Anna was Sidney’s first female firefighter and was a part of the recruiting class of 1992.

and the fact she was a woman soon became a non-issue.

“It brings a certain type of person into that organization, Trelford said of the fire fighting community. “We are all so

different, but we have a common goal.”

The hardest part of being a firefighter for Trelford, she said, was ensuring she had enough time to train and prac-

tice with the department and balance her home life. At the time she had a young son and had to be there for him. She would later have a second son while a member of the fire department.

Trelford was with the Sidney volunteers until 2001, when she moved to North Saanich.

At the time, there was a residency requirement, so while she was not that far away, she had to leave the department.

So, Trelford joined the North Saanich volunteers department and became their first female firefighter. She spent 11 years there, before taking on a full-time fire fighting job at the Victoria airport.

She started at the airport department in 2008, what she calls a great job in a career she initially chose because of a friendly dare.

She’s a life member of the Sidney department and said she’ll be at the gala celebrations of the department’s 100th anniversary in August.

She said being a firefighter means training hard, studying hard and committing to the community she is serving.

Steven Heywood/News staff

Mike and Len Harman. Father and son worked together at the fire hall for 12 years.

Like father, like son Len Harman is proud of his son.

He says he recalls a marina fire a few years back — a dangerous situation that could have seen the loss of many boats. Instead, the fire claimed only three and he credits his son Mike for doing a great job in knocking the fire down.

Continued on page B6

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30, 2014 B4 • Sidney Fire 100 Years - July 2014

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B5 • Sidney Fire 100 Years - July 30, 2014

Family strengths passed on Continued from page B4

“Mike did an incredible job,” he said. “I was lucky to be on duty as a paramedic at the time and saw the fire. (Mike) really did pick up on those things he has seen over the years.”

Len and Mike served together on the Sidney Volunteer Fire Department for 12 years. Len started in 1980 and Mike joined in 1998. They overlapped for 12 of those years.

“Mike started as a 19-year-old young guy that virtually knew nothing, other than growing up around the hall,” said Len. “It was a family-oriented department.

We encouraged the families to be around.”

Mike said he used to ride his bike to the scene whenever his dad got a fire call. One of three brothers, Mike was the only one to follow in his dad’s footsteps and join the ranks of the volunteer firefighters.

When Len was a member, the fire department ran the ambulance service as well. He took the training and became a full-time paramedic. When the B.C. Ambulance Service took over in 1982, Len stayed on with them full-time, remaining a volunteer firefighter as well. He is still a paramedic but retired from the fire department

in 2010.

Len said there have been plenty of changes over the years — from the old hall and old school fire fighting, to better equipment and training standards that put volunteers on par with professional firefighters.

“In the earlier days, finding volunteers was easier, “ he said.

“Time and demographics have changed and today, it’s a lot harder.”

Getting and keeping volunteers is part of Mike’s job these days.

Having grown up with the fire hall as a part of his family life, Mike said it’s important to him to keep that spirit alive.

“My job is to liaise between the firefighters, the Chief and families,” he explained.

“I work on recruiting and keeping morale up. Thee are always new volunteers and we need those people.”

To maintain the ranks, Mike said creating a close knit family of firefighters is important.

“My dad, 30 years ago, was married and had three kids. I’m in my 16th year (with the department), married with three kids.

Family life is really important to us.”

Balancing that with the commitment as a volunteer firefighter

can be tricky, he said, but he’s there with his experience and help for new members.

“You do have to have the support. My wife has been right there behind me.”

And his dad was there for 12 years at the fire hall. Len was a deputy Chief when Mike was starting out. But Mike said that didn’t help him and he never sought special favours because of the family ties. Mike went up the

“You do have to have the support. My wife has been right there behind me.”

– Mike Harman ranks and is now a deputy Chief himself — earned on merit and promoted well after his dad left the department.

But they did learn from each other and Mike inherited his dad’s calm demeanor.

“It’s a family trait that has carried on,” Len said.

Both Mike and Len will be at the 100 year celebration Aug. 1 and 2 (Mike is the main organizer). They are looking forward to joining in the fun with the larger fire fighting community on the Saanich Peninsula.

Message from the Fire Chief

A

s we get closer to our 100th anniversary celebrations, many thoughts run through my mind as to how we got here.

The volunteer fire department was formed by concerned citizens who realized the need to have some form of fire protection. These citizens gave of their own time to provide a service that helped the community as a whole.

Today’s fire department has changed dramatically from its humble roots. The equipment is far better and the services we provide are more diverse. As a result, the members have to be well trained in order to be able to supply these services.

As in 1914, our members are volunteers. They give countless hours to training and responding to calls. As well as giving their time to the emergency Jim Tweedhope, side of the business, they spend many Fire Chief hours with community events. Whether it be raising money for our annual Muscular Dystrophy drive, collecting food for the food bank, or pouring coffee at Tim Horton’s for their Camp Day, our members are always there when they are called for help.

There have been many men and women in our community who have been members of the Sidney Volunteer Fire Department, and each of them has brought something to the table. They have all gone through the training to become firefighters but they have also been a part of our community.

Each of them has been involved not only with the fundraising or participating with school events, but each has enhanced the social side of our department. This has helped to maintain the sense of family that we enjoy. Many of our children grew up around the fire hall and we have several examples of these children growing up and becoming members themselves.

I’m proud to be a member of such a fine organization and I hope that the community continues to support their volunteer fire department.

Jim Tweedhope, Chief

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On Guard: Sidney’s

Honour Guard ambassadors

M

embers of the Sidney Volunteer Fire Department are ready to stand shoulder to shoulder for their 100th anniversary this year — as well as to pay tribute to fallen comrades, to remember Canada’s war dead and to represent Sidney at special occasions.

For the new Sidney Honour Guard, only a year old in 2014, it means extra drill training and added volunteer time on top of their normal duties at the fire hall.

It’s a big commitment, says Assistant Fire Chief Hank Michno, and that’s why the group is small right now — down to eight members from an original 12 who signed up. Be that as it may, he said the Honour Guard has performed well and has received a lot of praise for such a new unit within the fire department.

The idea for an honour guard — Sidney’s first — came up in 2013 during discussions around how the department was going to celebrate its 100th anniversary. Once committed to the idea, Michno said the hard work began — gathering existing dress uniforms, practicing drill and raising money for specific uniforms and a new crest.

“The honour guard is a proud tradition,” Michno said, noting the unit helps show respect to individuals and groups at important times in the community and abroad.

They act as ambassadors for the community as well, he said. On Aug. 9 and 10, the Sidney Honour Guard will be in Washington State to help a county fire department there celebrate its anniversary.

Michno said he is very proud of the firefighters who have been putting in the time to make the Honour Guard a reality. He was even awarded a pace stick for his efforts as Honour Guard commander.

“We have all done it together,” he said.

Message from the Mayor

O

n behalf of the Town of Sidney, I would like to congratulate the Sidney Fire Department on the occasion of their 100th Anniversary!

This milestone is an indication of the commitment and dedication that generations of men and woman have given to the community and its residents.

Under the capable leadership of our well respected Fire Chief, Jim Tweedhope and Deputy Fire Chief Brett Mikkelsen, the Fire Department continues to grow, prosper and provide solid services, education and emergency planning to the community. They have brought a sense of honour and pride to the team of both career and Volunteer Fire Fighters working for the Town of Sidney. Their exceptional leadership has inspired Larry Cross, Mayor of Sidney the development of an Honour Guard that takes part in important community events and travels to other communities around North America, representing the Fire Department and Sidney.

The Sidney Fire Department also works tirelessly in the community to support numerous charitable causes.

Each year they undertake an annual Muscular Dystrophy drive, an annual food drive at Christmas, they have supported the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation’s licence plate holder fundraiser and the Tim Horton’s Camp Day to name only a few.

It is hard to imagine our community without this integral group of people working to keep us safe. They are always there for us no matter how big or small the cause or incident, often risking their own lives to protect us. On behalf of the Town of Sidney, I say “Thank you” to all of them for keeping Sidney safe!

Larry Cross, Mayor

Congratulations on 100 years!

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• Sidney Years - July B7B7 • Sidney FireFire 100100 Years - July 30,2014 2014

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The Sidney Volunteer Firefighters 100 Year Centennial would like to thank the following sponsors for all of their ongoing support.

Gold Sponsors:

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B8 • Sidney Fire 100 Years - July 30, 2014

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Thank You! Honourable Mentions:

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