A firefighter calendar calls to mind 12 pages of handsome men in uniform. However, for the department in Dawson Creek, looks have nothing to do with it.
The calendar will highlight three historical fires that have taken place in Dawson Creek in recent years: the Wildcat Video fire, Alaska Hotel fire and the Brass Scissors fire.
“The idea behind the calendar came from a lot of the big fires we had in the past couple of years,” said Captain Dennis Kesterke of the Dawson Creek Fire Department.
“The idea was to give back to our community and just show everybody what downtown had gone through.”
This is the first year that the fire department has organized a calendar. All of the funds raised will go to the Burn Fund.
“If you’re burned anywhere in the province at any age, you can go to the burn unit and a lot of it is funded by the B.C. Professional Firefighters,” said Kesterke. It’s a cause that he says is near and dear to the hearts of many firefighters.
Currently there is construction on a new burn ward trauma unit in Vancouver, which will also aid research to help burn victims, according to local Burn Fund representative Rhett Peterson.
“We’re just trying to do our part to pitch in and help out.”
The goal the firefighters is to sell 1,000 calendars.
“I think it’s a great cause, of course, because my husband is a firefighter,” said Tryna Gower, a local photographer, who took the photos for the calendar.
“I know what they go through, I know that the Burn Fund is a big deal. You never know when you’re going to need it… I’m just here to support what they are doing,” said Gower.
The antique fire truck on the front cover was used locally in the 1980s.
“The fire guys and myself bought it from them and I rebuilt it,” said John Wright. The truck now resides at the Pioneer Village and is an excellent example of Dawson Creek History.
“It’s an excellent cause and my son is a firefighter so I have a little bit of a tender heart for that,” said Heather Weaver.
“This one is a lot more classy and as a mom – it speaks to a much broader gaze, it’s not all just with pin-up guys.”
