Paige Seburn
Niagara Now/The Lake Report

This October, the Queenston Volunteer Firefighters Association is celebrating a milestone — 75 years of dedicated service to the community.

For secretary-treasurer Crispin Bottomley, this anniversary marks more than just another year of service.

“If we go back 75 years, we were a village that had protection provided by the greater township of Niagara out of St. Davids, and it was felt that there was a need to have a fire station within the village,” he said.

Today, after decades of evolution since its foundation in 1949, the volunteer firefighters group still operates in the village, providing life-saving emergency fire services for the people of Queenston.

The association is hosting anniversary festivities next weekend, taking place over two days at 5 Dumfries St., will highlight the deep-rooted bond between the firefighters and the residents they protect.

The celebration kicks off on Friday, Oct. 11 with the traditional fall spaghetti dinner from 5 to 7 p.m., bringing the community together for a night of food and fellowship at the fire station.

The dinner, open to the public and priced at $14 for adults and $6 for children, will offer takeout options as well. Proceeds go to support local organizations and charities.

The festivities continue on Saturday with an open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring fire trucks, emergency vehicles, and presentations on fire prevention, alongside a barbecue lunch available for purchase.

On Sunday there’s a trivia night, which has already sold out.

Back in the late 1940s, people in Queenston expressed to the governing municipality at the time the need for a fire service based in the village, including local fire trucks, to ensure firefighters could respond to emergencies faster and more effectively, Bottomley said.

He has been a member of the fire service for 25 years.

“I came just around the 50th anniversary,” he said. “I’ve been able to recognize the 50th, 60th and now the 75th — and as a child of a firefighter, I was able to experience what it was like to see the 40th.”

The Queenston Volunteer Firefighters Association has not only provided emergency services but has also become an integral part of the local community through various fundraising and charitable efforts, said Bottomley.

From supporting local youth programs and sports teams to contributing to capital campaigns for community facilities, the association works to gives back to Queenston and Niagara-on-the-Lake, contributing around $5,000 annually.

“This anniversary is not just a marker of time — it’s a testament to the courage, sacrifice, and camaraderie that have defined what it means to be a firefighter in Queenston,” said NOTL fire chief Jay Plato in an emailed statement.

“Each training session and each response to an emergency tell a story of selflessness and commitment to the community and each other. Great dedication ensures that when our neighbours are in need, we are here to help,” he wrote.

It’s also important, Plato said, to honour the firefighters who served the community before the current roster, including the founders of the volunteers association.

“Their legacy lives on, inspiring new generations to join the department.”