Unionized firefighters in Port Coquitlam spend much of their off-duty time helping to raise money for national and provincial causes.
Donations from Fill the Boot goes to Muscular Dystrophy Canada while proceeds from a November hockey tournament are given to the Movember Movement to support men’s health.
IAFF Local 1941 also brings in cash for the BC Professional Fire Fighters Association Burn Fund via softball games, Christmas tree chips and Bright Nights in Stanley Park, among other activities.
Now, the 78-member Local wants to make a greater impact in the community it serves.
Recently, it applied to the Canada Revenue Agency for charitable status to launch the Port Coquitlam Firefighters Charitable Society, a non-profit group that aims to collect at least $11,000 a year to support a breakfast and snack program at two elementary schools as well as a scholarship for a graduating student in PoCo.
President Thomas Loss — who is on the inaugural society executive with fellow firefighters Colby Kulhanek (vice president), Steve Oishi (secretary), former accountant Jason Marshall (treasurer) — said the group is already off to a good start.
Its partnership with Northpaw Brew Co., which opened last summer in the Dominion Triangle, will result in a new lager called Ring the Alarm, due out in mid-May, with partial proceeds being poured into the charity (co-owner Courtney Brown said the suds will only be available in the tasting room, until supplies last).
As well, its association with the Coquitlam Firefighters Charitable Society — which also funds a breakfast and snack program for Coquitlam schools — has meant a location shift for its 6th annual gala this fall: The event will take place Sept. 28 at the Riverside Community Church to put the spotlight on PoCo’s new society.
“As a union, we were looking at ways to give back to the community more,” Loss told The Tri-City News last week, adding, “We are pleased to have the support from our chiefs and the city. It’s going to be lots of work but we are ready.”
