A group of business and community-minded residents have stepped up to help keep the Fort George Highway Rescue rolling.
Junior Chamber International (JCI) Prince George, a local branch of a global non-profit organization, has partnered with the rescue group to raise money for their permanent headquarters.
"We generally focus on individual and business development and we also do community projects like fundraiser events for organizations that need it," said JCI Prince George president Andrea Edwards. "Basically we're a group of people that are all business minded and like minded and want to involve ourselves in the community and in our businesses as well."
The group approached the highway rescue organization with a plan to host a semi-formal fundraising dinner May 5 at the Ramada Hotel.
It was an unexpected, but incredibly welcome gesture, said Fort George Highway Rescue chief Keith Laboucan.
"We do have other sources of funding, but they're the first group that's stepped up to come on board with us to help us obtain our goal, which is very, very exciting for me and the members here," said Laboucan.
"It's a dream come true, actually."
Sunday afternoon brought the two groups together to get to know each other, with presentations, lunch and a social gathering. "We ended the day with an auto extrication with one of their members trapped in the vehicle. So we showed them what we do outside of the city limits," Laboucan said.
As of this August, the lease is up on the 30-year-old highway rescue organization's current home at the corner of 15th Avenue and Ospika Boulevard.
They have land a few blocks away where Foothills Boulevard meets 10th Avenue, but no roof over their head.
"There's a plan for development here, so sooner rather than later we need to start to think about a permanent home, which is why we're partnering with JCI to help us raise money and ideas," Laboucan said.
The cost of the new building is expected to fall between $400,000 and $600,000 and Laboucan and Edwards are hoping other corporate sponsors will come forward with financial support.
"This is exciting for all of us. For me, it hasn't really sunk in yet. I haven't really had this opportunity to work with anybody and for them to come out of nowhere and be this excited and this on board is great," Laboucan said.
Anyone interested in helping is asked to contact JCI Prince George at pgjuniorchamber@gmail.com.
