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Weldon School supports town’s fire department

Bienfait Weldon School recently showed how much it appreciates its fire department. The school raised $1,380 for the department during their annual open house for education week in October. The proceeds were presented to the fire department recently.
Bienfait Weldon School
From left, Alicia Enns-Sali from the Bienfait Weldon School’s School Community Council, Weldon principal Nina Lonsberry and Weldon teacher and Bienfait Fire Department member Elizabeth Giesbrecht participated in the cheque presentation from the school to the fire department. Photo submitted

Bienfait Weldon School recently showed how much it appreciates its fire department.

The school raised $1,380 for the department during their annual open house for education week in October. The proceeds were presented to the fire department recently.

“Some staff members decided that they thought it was a great idea if we raised some money to help out our fire department,” said principal Nina Lonsberry.

A silent auction table was set up with items from the school community council and the staff. It didn’t have to be something tangible, as Lonsberry provided a night at the movies in which she took a family to the Orpheum Theatre.

Lonsberry was surprised with how much money was raised at the open house.

“We’ve done silent auctions before just to raise some money for the school, but I was really happy that the families would still support raising money for the fire department,” she said.

One of the teachers at the school, Elizabeth Giesbrecht, is a member of the fire department, and the school is proud of her involvement. She was part of the reason why the fire department was chosen. Her uniform was on display at the open house, and everyone who attended was told it would cost $2,200 to purchase a full set of gear for a firefighter.

“When we contacted the fire department and told them what we were doing, they told us that … whatever we raised, they would match. That uniform, that set of gear, they were going to put a patch on it for Weldon School on the gear.”

Lonsberry noted the fire department has a long history of supporting the school. Each year the department comes to the school to do a presentation on fire safety. In the past, they have set up obstacle courses, and brought the fire truck to the school to let the students try on the gear. 

But what the students and staff love the most, according to Lonsberry, is the year-end Slip and Slide, and when the fire department comes and hoses the children down.

“They come and do so much for us, and we appreciate it so much, so this is our way to tell them how much we appreciate them,” said Lonsberry.