Black Mountain Elementary students, staff and parents expressed their gratitude Thursday morning to Joe Rich and Kelowna firefighters and first responders who battled the Philpott Road wildfire this summer.
A contingent of RCMP, ambulance, wildlife service and fire department members were led by Joe Rich fire chief Ben Wasyliuk at the school91裸聊视频檚 heroes assembly.
91裸聊视频淥ur students work on their social emotional learning every day, part of which means learning to show gratitude,91裸聊视频� said Black Mountain school principal Janet Williams.
91裸聊视频淎s a school, we wanted to honour the brave people who fought the wildfire that threatened so many homes in our area.91裸聊视频�
Alyssa Glid, a Grade 5 student, echoed the sentiments of her classmates, saying she wanted to thank the firefighters and first responders for helping to ensure no homes were lost in the wildfire.
91裸聊视频淚t is important to thank them because of what they do every day. They put their lives in danger to keep our lives out of danger and get the fires out,91裸聊视频� she said.
Sarah Watson, vice-principal at Rutland Senior Secondary and a Joe Rich resident, spoke to the assembly about her family91裸聊视频檚 experience of being evacuated.
Amidst the stress and emotions of being displaced from their home, Watson said their family took great comfort in knowing the firefighting efforts would do everything possible to save their house.
91裸聊视频淚t was emotional and physically exhausting work I91裸聊视频檓 sure, and a worrisome time for all of us, but we were always comforted knowing we felt safe and they were always working on our behalf,91裸聊视频� said Watson, who91裸聊视频檚 daughter attends Black Mountain Elementary.
91裸聊视频淚 was so thankful, as were all Joe Rich families, to be able to walk back in the front door of our home and say those magical words, 91裸聊视频業t91裸聊视频檚 so good to be home.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�
Central Okanagan school board chair Moyra Baxter recalled how the school district was a focal point of forest fires this summer, from Joe Rich to Peachland to Lake Country.
91裸聊视频淭he great thing about that was nobody was killed or seriously hurt. That is the most important thing,91裸聊视频� Baxter said.
School district superintendent/CEO Kevin Kaardal, who lives in the Black Mountain area, said he was impressed at how the community came together to support displaced residents and the firefighting effort.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 been two years since I moved here, but I was amazed to see how our staff, teachers, principals and others helped and comforted evacuated families and made them feel they had the support of the community,91裸聊视频� Kaardal said.
91裸聊视频淭hese are incredible people we recognize today who put their lives at risk for us, our homes and our livestock. The result was an outstanding result where everyone91裸聊视频檚 homes were saved and no lives were lost.
He said the students gathering to share their gratitude is a reflection of his own belief that 91裸聊视频渁 life lived with gratitude is a life filled with joy.91裸聊视频�
After the assembly, Wasyliuk said the response from the school was moving for all of his first responder cohorts to hear.
91裸聊视频淚t was certainly heartwarming to enter the assembly and to hear the applause and appreciation from the students, parents and faculty,91裸聊视频� he said.
Following the morning assembly, Black Mountain students took part in the school91裸聊视频檚 annual Terry Fox Run in the afternoon.
For a video of this story, go to kelownacapnews.com
