Volunteer community protective services groups provide crucial support to assist emergency responders, says the Sundre RCMP detachment’s commander.
“It’s very important to recognize them for what they do in the community,” said Sgt. Jim Lank, referring primarily to Sundre Search and Rescue, Chinook Arch Victim's Services, the fledgling Sundre Citizens on Patrol Association, as well as the Sundre Fire Department.
“These volunteers really do enhance the safety and quality of life of our community. They’re critical to support front-line operations,” he said during an interview.
“They dedicate countless hours of their time,” he said, adding volunteers in many cases also put in plenty more hours with followups and board meetings.
These groups typically rely nearly exclusively on grants as well as fundraising efforts to maintain their services to the community, he said.
With limited government funding compounded by concerns of increasing property crimes, “It’s become so important for the community to be involved as a part of the solution. These volunteer organizations make the community a safer place.”
So Lank, who is also the liaison officer coordinating the effort to get the revived Sundre Citizens on Patrol Association off the ground, decided to spearhead organizing an event to not only celebrate local tri-services groups — the RCMP, fire department and emergency medical responders — but also to recognize as well as raise funds for the volunteer agencies that provide support.
“It’s a semi-formal evening of camaraderie, fun, dance and acknowledgement. If you’ve never been to a regimental ball, it’s quite fun,” he said.
The evening was inspired by the tradition of elegant RCMP regimental balls, which have a long history that stretches back well over a century, he said.
“I wanted to take a new approach and involve other key agencies.”
So while the event will include some of the traditions of an RCMP regimental ball such as donning the red serge ceremonial dress, the fire department and emergency medical responders will also weave in some of their own customs, he said.
“I felt that our community was badly overdue to have something like this,” he said.
The inaugural Sundre Tri-Services Regimental Spring Ball takes place Saturday, May 5 at the Sundre Community Centre starting with cocktails at 5 p.m. Organizers are planning to accommodate about 225 people.
The ball will feature the following: a catered supper that includes wine; a complimentary photo booth; a speech by guest speaker Mayor Terry Leslie; live entertainment by Doghouse — a band that performs a blend of rock, blues and country music; as well as a silent auction, said Lank.
Proceeds from the sale of tickets, which are available through the Sundre Fire Hall as well as the Sundre RCMP detachment, will be split equally among the Sundre Citizens on Patrol Association, Chinook Arch Victim's Services Society as well as the Sundre Volunteer Search and Rescue Society.
To learn more about these community protective service organizations, visit www.scopa.co, www.chinookarchvictimsservices.com, or look up Sundre Search and Rescue on social media.
Lank said he was not aware of such an event being hosted in Sundre in the past, and is hopeful that the fundraiser becomes an annual function.
“If it wasn’t for these volunteer agencies, there would be a very big gap in the services provided to the community.”
