They got the grant!

Last month, we told you about how the St. Jean Volunteer Fire Department was in the running for a $25,000 Growing Home Grant from BASF, much needed funds that would help it replace 12 of its soon-to-be-discontinued breathing units. We provided a link on PembinaValleyOnline where you could cast your vote, and the department ran a passionate social media campaign. 

Well, the community and fire fighters from across the country rallied and the department secured the funding. 

"I'm so proud of our guys being able to put everything up, doing last-minute spiels on Facebook, phoning family and friends...I was super impressed with everybody doing their due diligence," said Fire Chief Eugene Fillion. "We had a guy to go Costco (in Winnipeg) and someone approached him saying 'we voted for you guys!' It's pretty neat having the positive feedback that we did, and I was really impressed everybody who did the work to help this go forward."

Thanks to this grant, the department will be able to purchase two new Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus for its fire fighters, at a cost of about $12,000 each. According to Fillion, the R.M. of Montcalm has committed to buying 6 units, bringing them up to 8. He says the department would be happy with 10, so members are busy applying for other grants in order to get the final two units.
    
Meantime, BASF will be coming out to St. Jean this summer to help celebrate. We'll share the details on that when they are available.

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