Emergency calls for highway help will soon ring at a new Prince George address. Fort George Highway Rescue Society has a parcel of land on which they plan to build a new home - their first permanent headquarters in 30 years of existence.
"We are not homeless but there is always a possibility that our landlord will do something different with this land," said FGHRS chief Keith Laboucan. "Our landlord is ICBC, right next door to us, and we have great relations with them, they have always been very accommodating, but we know that we are tenants in their building and this is not a permanent solution. Our lease is up in August of 2012 and we have to find a new home."
The plot of land has already been acquired, not far from the BC Hydro substation at the tight bend in the road where Foothills Boulevard meets 10th Avenue, west of the city's soccer fields. It is only a few blocks from the current FGHRS location on Ospika Boulevard, but this will be more accessible for members (a boulevard in front of their current location requires circular driving from some directions) while still maintaining a central location with excellent outlets to all directions of the regional district.
"We have a small nest egg started in our building fund," said Laboucan, expecting the construction bill to be somewhere in between $500,000 and $800,000.
They go to every corner of the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George area, no matter how remote or otherwise devoid of emergency services, whenever a vehicle crash requires the jaws of life, low-angle rescue, or any number of emergency scenarios. They are also the primary highway rescue agency for a number of volunteer fire departments, and have mutual aid agreements to assist other volunteer fire departments that have their own rescue groups.
"We have been working with Fort George Highway Rescue over a number of years to put together ideas for their own building," said Donna Munt, emergency services co-ordinator for the regional district. "They have done a very good job in planning for the possible event that they need a new home."
Expanding that construction nest egg, and establishing sustainable funding for ongoing operations (right now they get a small grant from the regional district, a stipend when used by the Provincial Emergency Program, and have to fund-raise the rest) is part of the regional district's plans for the group.
"We have met with (elected officials and regional district staff) to discuss the levels we can assist them," said Munt. "It is always a concern when there is possibility of a valuable service that can no longer operate. I think that the directors will sit down with them again, during budget time. The directors would like to see some provincial funding but that is only an option being explored."
The province is on the FGHRS side, at least in spirit. Senior emergency response administrator Peter Prendergast was in Prince George in early October to meet with the group and although no promises could be made, he told The Citizen the province sees the benefits provided by the highly trained and outfitted group.
"A new facility was part of the reason I went to meet with them," Prendergast said. "The Minister of Public Safety and Solcitor General [local MLA Shirley Bond] is very committed to having the rescue system of the province at its best, and part of that was looking at preparing for the future for groups like this, and looking for funding sources and different practical approaches to have them do their work. Volunteers are the backbone of rescue work in the province and we take that very seriously. This group is a great example of that."
Fundraising activities are pending, but in the meantime the FGHRS will continue to respond to vehicle incidents as usual. Anyone wishing to join their team or contribute funding ideas is asked to contact them at 250-562-2501 or visit their website at www.fortgeorgehighwayrescue.com.
Homing In on FGHRS's History
- From its formation 30 years ago until 1996 the society operated out of a private home.
"It started in Dave and Barb Hesse's garage and basement at their house, with a few tools in an old converted BC Tel van that was donated to them," said current chief Keith Laboucan.
- In 1996 a garage was rented on First Avenue to store the group's vehicle and equipment, with training done in a vacant lot nearby.
- In 1999 the Society moved to its current building near the intersection of Ospika Boulevard and 15th Avenue.
- Recently the group acquired land at the corner of Foothills Boulevard and 18th Avenue. "It is zoned and ready for development and building. We have the associated building costs and plans all we need now is the money to make it happen," said Laboucan.
