#Skills

Holly Smith, LJI Journalist

NEW CARLISLE – Firefighters across the Gaspé Peninsula and the Magdalen Islands now have a new way to work together and share their passion for helping others. The Gaspésie Firefighters Association was officially launched on August 1. The goal is to bring together fire departments from all MRCs in Gaspésie, as well as the Magdalen Islands, to support each other and promote teamwork, learning, and recognition.

“The creation comes from a desire to bring together all the firefighters of the Gaspésie region to proudly represent our profession and our shared passion,” says Mr. Joshua Boulé, spokesperson for the Association’s Board of Directors. “It all came from a whim while discussing with a colleague: why don’t we have activities with the firefighters of the municipalities around us?”

The Association includes all five MRCs in Gaspésie, plus the Magdalen Islands. Mr. Boulé says the Magdalen Islands were included because everyone deserves to be represented. “Every fire department has the right to be well represented throughout the region, regardless of borders – this is why we chose to integrate the Magdalen Islands into our association,” says Mr. Boulé. “They are too often forgotten and excluded from groups, but they still have the same passion as us, and are as professional as we are,” he adds.

Helping firefighters share skills and learn

The Association wants to help departments work better together by sharing knowledge and training. “We have the same duties towards citizens, and we all have the right to share our working techniques and our learning in order to become better,” says Mr. Boulé, “especially being far from large urban centres, and too often forgotten by them. We have a completely different reality from them, whether in relation to the alignment and access to training, and with the recruitment and retention of staff.”

The Association will also offer training for situations that are common in the Gaspésie region. “We plan to offer training seminars related to the realities of the field, for example, the Chic-Choc Mountains and Forillon Park (rescue in isolated areas), rescues on large bodies of water with the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Chaleur Bay and around the Archipelago of Islands.” says Mr. Boulé.

Building community and recognizing dedication

Firefighters in Gaspésie often work in small teams and don’t get many chances to connect with others. The Association wants to change that. “We would also like to plan fraternization activities between firefighters to take the time to discuss, exchange and appreciate our work,” says Mr. Boulé. “We would like to plan activities periodically in each of our members’ sectors, and thus discover their equipment, their facilities and their working methods. These activities could be in the form of seminars, or activities such as dinners, friendly competitions, fishing tournaments, billiards, golf, hockey, baseball, soccer games.”

Fair representation for all

The Association is run by a democratically elected Board of Directors, and it was built to make sure all areas and department sizes are treated fairly.

“The primary goal is that each MRC/region is proudly represented and has access to the same opportunities and tools as everyone else,” says Mr. Boulé.

“We will try to have an equitable voice in order to represent all sizes of Fire Services in the Gaspésie,” he adds. “Considering that very few services are so-called full-time in the region and considering that there is only one industrial brigade at this time, the Association will be open to welcoming all those who wish to join in the same interest,” he continues.

Members will also be able to exchange ideas more easily with other departments in the region. “They will have the power to exchange with people from the same region on various topics such as working conditions, training and intervention techniques, all of this more easily and accessible and with a wide scope,” says Mr. Boulé.

A stronger voice together

The Association also hopes to help firefighters speak with one voice when talking with municipal or provincial leaders.

“This is a rather sensitive question,” says Mr. Boulé, “but it will allow us to better evaluate the comparisons between services nearby – and further afield – and thus allow members to better express their needs to authorities with concrete examples.”

His message to fire departments that haven’t joined yet is simple: “You have everything to gain by joining us because we know in our profession that together we are stronger!”

How to join

Any fire department in the Gaspésie or Magdalen Islands is welcome to become a member. Information and a registration form can be found on the Association’s Facebook page (Association des pompiers de la Gaspésie) or by email at assopompiersgaspesie@gmail.com.