The Okotoks Fire Department helped residents in isolation celebrate their birthdays over the last two months with birthday parades.

From the beginning of April to the end of May, the department performed over 540 birthday parades where they drove past houses in town with their lights and sirens on.

Pat MacIsaac, Acting Fire Chief of the Okotoks Fire Department, says the initiative helped to strengthen bonds and build new connections.

"It brought our team closer together. They really felt connected to the community, to the kids, and even to some of the older people that were having birthdays. It was really special for our department. We got to meet, safely from a distance, a lot of people that under other circumstances we wouldn't have got to meet and help celebrate their special day."

MacIsaac says the parades were a collaboration with other local first responders.

"We had Municipal Enforcement accompany us on a lot of them, RCMP, even EMS, so it became a real cross-functional team building exercise for all of us. We were all looking for ways to help enhance the social fabric of our community and it was such an easy way for us to get out into the community during this crisis."

He adds that building a connection the community makes them better first responders, reinforces what a great town they live in, and that it's their job to collectively protect residents.

 

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