Cullen Giesbrecht and Karsen Rylee are running to be on next year's Firefighters Calendar. (Submitted Photos)

By Derek Craddock

FIREFIGHTERS CALENDAR

P.A. and Wakaw firefighters hope to be on the 2024 calendar

Apr 14, 2023 | 4:00 PM

Two local firefighters want your votes as they’re vying to be on the 2024 Saskatchewan Firefighters Calendar.

The annual initiative raises money for the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation. The selection night for the calendar is scheduled to take place on April 22 in Regina.

Two firefighters that hoped to be named on that night are Karsen Rylee of Prince Albert and Cullen Giesbrecht on Wakaw.

Rylee, who was born and raised in Prince Albert, is in her second season with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency as a Wildland Firefighter— after previously serving in B.C.

She said she has always purchased the calendar and decided to give it a shot this year and support the Hospital Foundation.

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“I’m really excited about the chance to raise money for the cause.”

(SaskFirefighterscalender.com)

That cause was the main motivator for Giesbrecht in his decision to compete for the calendar.

He has been with Wakaw/Hoodoo Fire and Rescue for eight years now and is a big fan of the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation.

“I’ve just heard a lot of great things about it over the years and I’ve been trying to figure out a way that I could give back to this cause.”

While both Rylee and Giesbrecht would be thrilled to be on the calendar this year, just supporting the hospital is more than enough for them.

“I’m a really big kid person, I really love children. It would be so cool to be part of an amazing fundraiser,” said Rylee who said another motivating factor for her entering the contest was to support women in the firefighting industry.

“It would give me a chance to represent women in wildfire, there’s not too many of us. It would show other women that they can do it.”

“It would be a great honour to be on the calendar,” added Giesbrecht. “But I’m just thankful for the opportunity I have now.”

Voting for the 2024 calendar participants is on now and will end on the 22^nd. Both firefighters are encouraging their communities to get out and vote as many times as they can.

“I’ve had lots of support from all the members, the community in Wakaw has been great. Its way exceeded expectations,” said Giesbrecht.

Voting is done by donation, with a minimum gift of .50 c required for each vote you cast. Voting is done online at https://saskfirefighterscalendar.com/.

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @princealbertnow