Vauxhall EMS signs 20th member

By J.W. Schnarr
Vauxhall Advance
jwschnarr@tabertimes.com

In the event of an emergency, the Town of Vauxhall is well covered.

A report from Vauxhall Regional Fire Chief and Alberta Health Services liaison Brian Schafer included an update on the current number of Vauxhall EMS when it was presented during Municipal District of Taber council’s regular meeting on Sept. 8. In the report, Schafer noted he had signed on the town’s 20th EMS volunteer.

“There will be five new members attending the full AHS orientation in October/November,” Schafer indicated. “Three of them are (National Fire Protection Association) 1001 certified fire fighters so I will sign them on and utilize them as fire volunteers when they are here on the weekends.”

Municipal Administrator Derrick Krizsan said the numbers seen in Vauxhall are a big improvement over the past few years.

 “We’ve reached our goal of 20 volunteers in Vauxhall which is an increase from seven a couple years ago,” he said.

“This is huge for Vauxhall,” agreed Division 5 Coun. Bob Wallace.

Krizsan said the facilities for volunteers has greatly improved the outlook for the town when it comes to finding people who want to travel to Vauxhall for EMS training purposes. Last year, the Town of Vauxhall paid for the construction of two bedrooms and a common room, complete with furnishings, at an estimated cost of $6,000. The rooms are intended to provide living quarters for out-of-town EMS when they are on call in Vauxhall.

Krizsan said there are a number of creature comforts intended to improve their stay in the town, including cable television, WiFi, sleeping quarters, and a living area. He praised the work of AHS for partnering with local municipalities in order to make the program a success, and said Schafer provides a vital link between the different organizations involved as a liaison.

Reeve Brian Brewin said he and council have been impressed by the improvements to service in the Vauxhall area.

“We went from a service that we were in fear of losing, to one that is working quite well,” he said.

Get More Vauxhall Advance →