Get ready to fill those boots, St. Albert — the city’s firefighters are headed up to the roof this month to raise money to treat muscular dystrophy.
St. Albert firefighters will be at restaurants, shopping malls, and atop Fire Hall No. 2 later this month for their 14th annual rooftop campaign/boot drive for Muscular Dystrophy Canada. The event is part of a nationwide drive by firefighters to raise funds for the group, which they typically have donors drop into rubber boots.
The St. Albert Firefighters Local 2130 hopes to raise some $35,000 this year, said campaign co-organizer Daniel Onaczyszyn. If they reach that goal, it will put St. Albert’s lifetime total at close to $500,000, the third highest of any community in Alberta.
“We’re not the biggest city, but we’ve managed to be the most generous,” Onaczyszyn said.
Pasta, boots, roof
This year’s campaign starts Feb. 20 at the St. Albert East Side Mario’s (615 St. Albert Trail). Restaurant owner Mike Podloski (who has relatives in the St. Albert fire department) said firefighters will put on their dress uniforms and serve as the restaurant’s wait-staff from 5 to 8 p.m. that day, with any tips they collect going toward the fundraiser.
“Some of them will try to do more than they can, and every year somebody drops drinks on somebody,” Podloski said, which is always good for a laugh.
Podloski encouraged guests to come out to this Tuesday’s event to support a good cause.
“The firefighters in St. Albert can basically do everything,” he said, and respond to every emergency call.
“They support us and are always active in the community, so why not come support them?”
Firefighters will have their boots out for donations at the south-side Save-On-Foods from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 24 and at the north-side Save-On on Feb. 25, Onaczyszyn said.
The campaign’s main event runs from Feb. 28 to March 2. By day, Onaczyszyn and a handful of other volunteers will be on the tarmac giving tours of Fire Hall No. 2 and collecting donations. By night, they will sleep in a large tent on the fire hall roof.
“It’s kind of like winter camping,” Onaczyszyn said of the experience, in that they have a diesel heater, but it can get pretty nippy. It was about -30 C at night during last year’s campaign.
“By the last day, you’re definitely excited to sleep in your own bed.”
Onaczyszyn said this year’s warm winter might mean fewer donations from visitors who pity frozen firefighters, but could also mean more foot traffic and donations overall.
The fundraiser wraps up with a party at the south-side Canadian Brewhouse (101 St. Albert Trail) on March 8, Onaczyszyn said. Tickets are $10.
Despite the mental and physical hardship involved, Onaczyszyn said many firefighters (including himself) step up to do the rooftop campaign year after year.
“It’s heartwarming and overwhelming to see the support of the city,” he said, especially the many snacks and hot drinks visitors drop off for those on the roof.
Visit tinyurl.com/y7y2a2ry for details on the campaign.
