BARRHEAD - The Grizzly Trail Fire Rescue Association (GTFRA) is bringing a touch of the Irish to Barrhead.
On Saturday, March 19, in a belated St. Patrick's Day celebration, the association is planning a day of fun, adult-oriented activities, including a six-cup beer pong tournament and other assorted games; a beer garden (complete with green beer); a-bash-a-car; and a 'Shamrock' glow dance party. The association has also arranged for the Edmonton Police Services (EPS) pipe band to perform.
The GTFRA is the fundraising arm of the Barrhead Regional Fire Services (BRFS). It was formed in 1989 to fundraise to purchase or subsidize equipment or training that the municipalities otherwise couldn't afford.
Recent examples of equipment the association has purchased include a Lucas CPR, a chest compression machine and a Lifepak 15 defibrillator.
BRFS fire chief Gary Hove said this 'St. Paddy's Shenanigans' event is a scaled-down version of the Oktoberfest event the association had planned in the fall but decided to put on hold due to COVID-19 public health restrictions.
In the fall, the association was considering using the funds of Oktoberfest to purchase special vehicle extraction equipment, but now they are leaning towards putting some of the proceeds into upgrading their 10 sea-can training apartment complex.
"We are going to be doing some technical rope rescue training, so some of the funds will be going to that as well," he said. "The members bring forward ideas, but right now, we are looking to build up our fund so that we can do these types of things. The types of specialized equipment that Grizzly Trial has bought help us serve the public better and protect our firefighters. This stuff is not cheap, but it is lifesaving."
Hove noted that the Lifepak 15 and Lucas CPR units cost the association $24,000 and $15,000 respectively.
He also said the association is hoping to expand the fundraiser, possibly putting on a weekend music festival in the future and inviting other not-for-profit organizations to become involved.
"It might be a little too much for us to bite off this year, but it is something we are thinking about," Hove said, adding in the meanwhile, they hope to organize another fundraiser with the Red Knights Motorcycle Club.
St. Paddy's Shenanigans will be held at the Barrhead Seniors' Drop-in Centre starting at noon. Tickets are $15 and are available at the door and the entry fee for a team of two to enter the beer pong tournament is $25. The Edmonton Police Service Pipe Band is scheduled to perform at 7 p.m., with the dance starting at 9 p.m.
Hove also noted that bagpipe aficionados will not have to wait for the EPS performance as he and his brother will be playing their bagpipes throughout the day.
