Patty and John Mock were honoured recently for their contributions and partnership with the town here to promote fire safety. Along with them was Minto Fire Chief Chris Harrow.
Mayor David Anderson asked Harrow to explain how the award came about.
Harrow said that last year, in late fall John Mock told him he would really like to get Minto’s smoke alarm program beefed up. The town developed its new smoke alarm policy, and the town’s fire department now issues one free smoke alarm for every residence in Minto.
With the Mocks help in this program, it expanded into a hardware store in Palmerston and Harriston as well as a number of other local businesses.
“But it was John’s idea to bring this program forward. To this date, at Mocks’ store, they’ve handed out between 300 and 400 smoke alarms.”
In Minto, about 500 alarms have been handed out.
“The program is going very well, and has been taken notice of by the province,” Harrow said. He sent in a nomination to the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office for a provincial fire safety award.
“We were successful in the nomination.”
Recently, he and the Mocks went to the ceremony in Toronto for a gala luncheon with politicians, the Ontario Fire Marshal, and other dignitaries.
At that time, the Mocks were presented with the award, along with 20 others across Ontario.
Harrow noted eight of the awards were for children for direct involvement in rescuing someone from a burning building or fire.
“It was well worth the time and it was an exciting event,” Harrow said. “We brought them here for council to recognize their achievements.”
Mayor David Anderson said it was great to be able to salute another partnership.
“Every time we have a partnership program … everything seems to go well,” Anderson said.
He presented the pair with a diploma from the town in recognition of their efforts to promote fire safety.
