(Ben Tompkins/northeastNOW)

By Ben Tompkins

James Smith Cree Nation

Melfort RCMP provides plaque of appreciation to Melfort Fire Department

May 3, 2023 | 2:24 PM

This past Thursday (April 27), the Melfort RCMP stopped by the Melfort Fire Department to present them with a plaque of appreciation.

It read: Melfort Firehall – in appreciation for the continued support for the Melfort RCMP and surrounding areas during times of duress and assisting your fellow first responders and their families during their time of need.

This was in large part due to the incidents at James Smith Cree Nation last fall, and the response that followed.

According to staff sergeant and detachment commander, Darren Simons, the RCMP used the fire hall as a space for their peers and chaplains to meet with the spouses of the members so that they were checked on, and the briefings and debriefings were also held there.

“There is a facility we could use, there was no cost to it, and it was large enough and it’s familiar to some of the members, so it’s like you’re not sending your spouse to somewhere which is strange, it is to another first responder place,” he explained. “They have an open door policy; we’re a team, and they have no problem with us using their facility.”

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Since then, RCMP have used the upstairs training room for their members, and have also had their dog handler use it for training purposes.

Simons added this expanded relationship has also now continued to benefit both sides, and he doesn’t see that changing.

“Now it’s just like we owe you guys, yet they think they owe us, so it’s one of those things where when you see one another it’s just kind of a nod like we’ve been through some stuff. It may be all different, but the fact is we’ve got something in common.”

And as for the fire department, their chief, Shaun Stewart told northeastNOW it means a lot to his members to receive this type of recognition, especially considering the large majority are volunteers.

(Ben Tompkins/northeastNOW Staff)

In smaller communities, there tends to be a lot more overlap and similar responders dealing with all sorts of emergency situations.

“It takes a lot of stress off as a leader knowing that there is that backup should you need it, and we don’t have the member numbers like bigger centers do. However, just because we are a smaller community it doesn’t mean that our incidents are always smaller,” Stewart said.

“The RCMP, Fire, EMS and Tow Recovery teams in Melfort have always taken extra time in building our relationships to ensure that we are able to function as a cohesive emergency unit on any emergency incident. When we respond to an incident, all teams that respond work towards the common goal of looking after the unfortunate citizens involved, they are the ones having their worst day. When those folks are looked after, then we always check with each other to make sure the Emergency Unit members are good as well. There is no, you or me, there is only a collective Us.”

As of right now, the plaque is sitting at the fire hall for all the members to look at and know that their hard work and dedication doesn’t go unnoticed.

The plaque will also later spend some time in the display at city hall, before eventually returning back to the department.

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