Charlie Burland was a prominent Niagara Falls businessman who passed away in 2021 from pancreatic cancer. He was also a firefighter, and friend to many, at Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Station 2 in St. Davids.
This past Monday, the association, and his wife Lisa on behalf of the Burland Family, each donated $1,000 to Red Roof Retreat.
“We really believe in what Red Roof does, which is giving kids and people with special needs a place to go,” said Arty Bjorgan, firefighter and association member at Station 2. “It’s a place allowing families to rest on the weekends, a place for people to be around like-minded individuals and have a good time, and it's in a very safe space. Red Roof has created a great atmosphere.”
The association raises funds through community activities and donates to local causes which also includes lacrosse, hockey and baseball.
On the last Saturday of the month, starting Oct. 26, the association cooks up a community breakfast which is always very well attended. It runs until April, said Bjorgan, “and we're always packed. We go 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and it is packed from the moment it opens up to the moment it closes. All the money that we raise there is invested back into the community.” The price can’t be beat: $10 for adults, $5 for kids.
On Thursday, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m., the station hosts their annual Halloween event, which will have prizes for best costumes, gift bags for the kids, “and obviously, we'll have the fire trucks out and about with lights on.”
“This will be a good, busy fall for us,” said Bjorgan. “We always enjoy Halloween, and getting our breakfasts going, and then we'll have our turkey roll at some point as well.”
All information about St Davids Fire Service Association events will be posted on their Instagram page at st.davidsfirefighters2.