Chemainus hosts Fire Safety Fair

Last winter’s tragic fire at Chemainus First Nation wasn’t far from the minds of anyone attending the fire safety fair at the CFN community centre in early May.

Hosted by the Nation’s health centre, events began May 2 with an official opening and welcome.
Fire departments from 18 Island communities usually hold the Cowichan Valley Fire Safety Fair in Duncan. But the local North Oyster Fire Department approached CFN’s health department about hosting the fair in order to show support for the community after the fire that claimed five lives.
“That community is still devastated by the loss,” fire prevention officer Paul Verhey said in an interview. “You can’t bring back the people that have gone, but if we can make one bit of good come out of tragedy… it affects everybody.”
The event featured safety information, demonstrations and activities including fire extinguisher training and Jaws of Life extraction exercises. There was also a fire safety house for children.

FNESS offers training and services

The First Nations’ Emergency Services Society provides programs, services, training and education in order to assist First Nations in developing and sustaining safer communities.
The FNESS fire and emergency medical training calendar includes courses in: critical incident stress management; emergency medical training; and fire fighter training. More info at: 604-669-7305 or
toll free 1-888-822-3388. www.fness.bc.ca/

A father’s message

Joey Nichiporuck is the father of the seven-year-old girl who died in the Chemainus First Nation fire. He wrote a letter in the latest newsletter from the First Nations Emergency Services Society that said, in part:
“I want to honour my daughter’s memory by promoting a positive message about fire safety. Like every father, there are many conversations that I would have liked to have had with my daughter. I know I have wished for at least one more. I urge you as parents to take the time to have a simple conversation with your children about this important subject.”
“We never think a tragic event like this can happen to us, and it has caused me to pause and think about things in my home that I was aware of and took for granted. Take the extra time to review your home and look closer.”
He then asked important questions.

• Do you have faulty electrical plugs that you have been meaning to fix?
• Are your power bars CSA compliant and adequate for the loads that you are placing on them?
• Are you storing flammable liquids properly?
• Do you have your fireplace cleaned annually, and are your wood stoves properly maintained?
• Have you taken the time to invest in a home fire safety plan, including adequate fire evacuation plans?
• Have you checked to make sure your exits are free of debris?
• Have you changed your smoke detector batteries, and do you regularly test your smoke detectors?

Joey Nichiporuk is willing to work with communities to promote fire safety and can be reached at 250-753-0984.

New schools coming to Chemainus First Nation

Two new school buildings will be built at Chemainus First Nation in the coming year.
The federal government announced funding for the new Stu’ate Lelum Secondary School in March. It will be built on a site at the growing community hub near the community centre.
Design work for the 144-student building is expected to start by summer with site preparation to follow. Actual construction is expected to begin early in 2010.
Len Merriman, principal of Stu’ate Lelum, said students and staff were overjoyed by the news of the new school. “The community has been waiting for more than six years for a new high school. Our students and staff have been doing a tremendous job in our outdated facility.”
In the 1980s, CFN purchased a restaurant on fee simple land along the Island Highway and converted it into a high school and Chemainus Native College.
Meanwhile, preliminary work has started on a new primary school that will have three classrooms for junior kindergarten, kindergarten and Grade 1 students.
The primary school will open in September. It will be built next the preschool and daycare facility, Nutsumaat Lelum.
Construction for the 4,000 square-foot will be totally financed by CFN’s own revenues.