2 Emergency Services – Volunteer Dependent
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2.1 Disaster – Part of Life
Canada’s history is dotted with disasters and events of near or catastrophic proportion: happenings like floods, mine disasters, chemical spills, and weather events such as hurricanes and ice storms. What each has in common is that within moments of occurring a host of volunteers arrive on the scene ready to provide crucial assistance to victims and to bring order out of chaos.
From large-scale disasters that attract national media attention to the thousands of smaller emergency situations that occur every year across the country, well-trained and dedicated volunteers from organizations such as the Search and Rescue, Hasmat Response Teams, the Salvation Army Disaster Service and Volunteer Fire Fighters are on the scene. These functional, dedicated unpaid men and women form the backbone of the system of emergency service delivery and disaster relief in Canada.
2.2 Volunteer Fire Departments Integral
Volunteer fire departments remain an integral part of many smaller communities. In Canada today, there are approximately 95,000 trained volunteer firefighters representing 80 per cent of the country's firefighting forces. They are the first-line defenders against many domestic threats involving fire, medical emergencies, hazardous materials, motor vehicle accidents and rescues ranging from trench collapse to high and low angle.
Volunteer firefighters are capable of handling fires in high-rise buildings, shopping malls and major industries. In Nova Scotia, volunteer outnumber career firefighters 8,400 to 600. In Ontario, it’s almost two to one; and in Newfoundland the number is 5,800 to 2, while in British Columbia it’s 10,000 to 3,500.
2.3 Grand Lake Road Volunteer Fire Department
The Grand Lake Road Volunteer Fire Department is part of a proud national network of volunteer fire fighters. Since its inception more than 4 decades ago, this collection of farsighted community leaders has persevered in building a highly expert and decidedly functional team dedicated to the protection of its community, the well being of Cape Breton and the safety of individual citizens. Without regard for time or personal interests, membership cumulatively has given thousands of hours of service in activities ranging form addressing accidents and fires, to training and fund raising. Over the life of the department a constant is the pride taken in unit by all volunteers. The relationship between firefighters and the department is organic, and its contribution to the community has been of immeasurable value.
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