HILLSBURGH – May 4 was International Firefighters Day and the Hillsburgh Firefighters Association celebrated with an open house and community pancake breakfast at Station 50 in Hillsburgh.
James Matthews, president of the association was happy with the turnout. “We had more people than we thought come out. We would have been happy with 100, but we got over 200 which was nice to see,” he said.
They are going to make it an annual event. “(It’s) a great way to get people out for the nice weather. Big thanks to everyone that came out,” Matthews said.
For Marta Prendka, the inaugural pancake breakfast was a must. Prendka grew up in Poland, where her father was a firefighter.
Prendka said her family always celebrated International Firefighters Day.
“Every year we would go to his fire station, and they would let us go up on the fire trucks. It is one of my best memories,” she said.
Prendka’s son Dominik enjoyed the breakfast, climbing into the trucks and all of the goodies the association provided for kids like hats, stickers and colouring books.
The firefighters provided everything needed to create a buffet with scrambled eggs, sausages, and pancakes complete with whipped cream, maple syrup and sprinkles.
Matthews noted that firefighter Matt Mousseau of Fourth Line Cattle in Erin donated the sausages. “They were a big hit,” Matthews said.
Firefighter Jim Peavoy who was dishing up the buffet breakfast, will be celebrating 50 years at Station 50 later this year. “It’s quite an achievement,” Matthews said.
Kelly Busby whose husband Steve is a firefighter at Station 50, brought her grandchildren from Burlington to take part in the festivities.
“The firefighters did all this,” Busby said.
“They set up everything and brought in all the supplies – it’s a great community event.”
The association raised funds for the breakfast and also raises funds for certain station supplies the Town of Erin is unable to provide, and for local causes by holding events like its summer garage sale.
“It started out just between ourselves,” said firefighter Johnny Vendetti.
Now, it is open to the public and has become very popular in the community. “It’s our biggest fundraiser,” Matthews said.
Garage sale donations can be dropped off at the Hillsburgh Community Centre on June 6 and 7 from 5pm to 9pm. The garage sale will be held at the centre on Saturday, June 8 from 8am to 2pm, and Sunday, June 9 from 10am to 2pm.
Volunteer firefighter Johnny Vendetti and daughters Gabriella, left, and Giullianna, right. Photo by Lorie Black
Hillsburgh firefighters, back row from left: Steve Busby, Jacob Miller, Ted Michaels, Dave Coolen, Nelson Ralph, James Matthews, Matt Mousseau, Sean Holmes, and George Newman. Front: Ashley Cox, Amanda Ralph, Jim Peavoy, Ian Hawke and Devyn Yandt. Photo by Lorie Black
Guelph-Wellington Paramedic Services paramedic Nick Blazenko, second from right, joined the association’s celebrations and offered community members an opportunity to explore inside an ambulance. From left: Sera Stinson, Scott Day, Theo Scott-Day, Blazenko and Jackson Tan.Photo by Lorie Black
