Some Wellington County fire departments took part last week in the annual convention of the Fire Fighters’ Association of Ontario (FFAO).
The event started with the formation of the volunteer organization in 1899.
Since then, municipalities across the province annually vie for the opportunity to host the meeting and bring community fire departments and their families together for a week of training, networking and competitions.
“The main thing we are trying to do this year is all the training courses,” said Kevin McNeilly, chief of the Grand Valley Fire Department and one of the lead organizers of the event.
McNeilly said the FFAO has a new mindset; one that is focused on bringing more expert training to the event. Grand Valley was keen to help launch it.
The convention, which ran from July 30 to Aug. 5, offered nine different training seminars on topics such as forcible entry, fire fighter survival training and pump operations.
Renowned fire instructors were brought in from across Canada and the United States to offer the training.
“It’s unheard of for this convention to have so many courses – sometimes there are none – and they were all filled up,” McNeilly said.
The August long weekend brought the festivities to a head. Over 200 firefighters and their families hitched a tent or parked a trailer at the rodeo grounds, close to the Grand Valley water tower.
Local businesses took part, providing the venues and food for a jam-packed schedule that included award ceremonies, an antique fire truck show and the fire fighter games.
Centre Wellington Fire Rescue Services faced Grand Valley, Norwich and Wainfleet in the games on Aug. 4.
“The best part is you get to socialize with people from different fire departments,” said Drew Wood, this year’s team captain for Centre Wellington. “And the games, of course.”
The convention ended on Sunday with a memorial parade.
