Paige Seburn
Niagara Now/The Lake Report
Kate Boothman and her kids were happy to join in on the fun on Saturday, Oct. 12 at the Queenston fire hall, which was celebrating 75 years of fighting fires and holding up its community.
The Queenston Volunteer Firefighter Association provided its neighbourhood with a weekend full of activities to celebrate this milestone.
The celebration kicked off with a traditional spaghetti dinner at the fire station on Friday, and on Saturday, an open house ran from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., showcasing fire trucks, emergency vehicles and fire prevention presentations, along with a barbecue lunch.
Boothman, who works for Niagara Emergency Medical Services (EMS), said she came on Saturday with her kids to support the firefighters and learn about the services that keep their community safe.
“I work for Niagara EMS, and that’s actually how we heard about the celebration,” she said.
“The service that they provide is valued, and it’s nice that they can be celebrated.”
Her kids all collectively agreed the firefighter hose demonstration was the highlight of the day.
Darren Trostenko, deputy fire chief for the NOTL Fire Department, has been with the department for nearly 35 years. He said he’s proud of reaching this milestone.
“It’s nice to see both the members that have been here in the past, current, and new people,” said Trostenko.
He said it helps newcomers understand what they need to know about the tradition and the responsibilities of being part of the department.
It’s also encouraging to others to see younger members joining the department. He said some current members weren’t even born when he started.
“It kind of puts things in perspective on just how long it is,” said Trostenko.
Serving the community for 75 years goes beyond professional duties — funds raised and volunteer efforts for minor sports reflect the commitment of the members to help when the community needs it, said Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa, who attended the celebration on Saturday.
During the celebration, the Queenston firefighters shared that, after going through the minutes of the association’s meetings since its inception, they found they have cumulatively donated more than $175,000 to support people and organizations in the community.
Zalepa said these contributions distinguish the association, showcasing that the volunteer force consists of dedicated individuals who make these initiatives possible.
“For me, I’m just really pleased I could be here to represent council, and say thank you to them,” he said.
Celebrations like this highlight the commitment of firefighters’ professional and physical training too, Zalepa said.
He pointed out their families make significant sacrifices in terms of time and rest.
Residents and council must support the families of these volunteers to ensure they receive the necessary care, enabling firefighters to respond whenever a call comes in, said Zalepa.
“I think it’s important to always remind our residents of this,” he said.
Secretary-treasurer Crispin Bottomley said it was a successful community celebration with a strong turnout, including retired members and those of various ages.
It also served as an opportunity to share fire prevention messages and engage with community partners such as Niagara Parks police, regional police and Niagara-on-the-Lake Hydro, he said.
People passing by on the parkway, who noticed the ladder truck and other emergency vehicles, were also encouraged to stop in and learn more about what the department is all about, Bottomly added.
“It’s what we wanted to do here. It represents our community,” he said.
The weekend celebration wrapped up with a sold-out trivia night on Sunday. The spaghetti dinner on Friday helped raise more funds to be donated back to the community, said Bottomley.
