Photographer Kelly Funk with firefighter Brad Binns.
Image Credit: Contributed by Kamloops Fire Fighters Charitable Society/Sam Rose Phillips
September 15, 2016 - 2:32 PM
KAMLOOPS - For fans of calendars, charities and firefighters it’s that time of year again; the Kamloops Fire Rescue calendar is out.
The 2017 calendar — featuring 13 Kamloops firefighters in various stages of undress — is available through the Kamloops Fire Fighters Charitable Society. The fundraiser raises thousands of dollars for both the B.C. Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund and the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation, firefighter and calendar organizer Cory Poirier says.
“Every year we have a huge demand,” Poirier says. “We sell out every year.”
This year, like past years there are 2,000 available at $20 each. While the person gets a calendar, that money is going to help build a new centre in Vancouver to help families of burn survivors and send survivors to camps. Locally, it helped purchase a new CPR machine for the hospital.
“The calendar sales bought that machine for Kamloops; to see that is extremely rewarding,” he says.
Calendars are on sale at Kamloops Fire Hall #1 at 1205 Summit Dr. for $20. They’ll also be available at community events around the city, where the firefighters in the calendar will be on hand for autographs or to take photos. Poirier says to expect to see tables around the city more often from October to December.
“Come to station one or keep posted on our Facebook page,” he says. “I think the next event might be the fall homeshow.”
He sees it as a great way for people to connect with the city’s firefighters.
“The guys who are in the trucks you see in the road are in the calendar,” he says.
Poirier, now in his second year of organizing the project, says he has hopes of growing it. He’d like to see more printed and would like to move into online sales.
A website ranking the best firefighter calendars worldwide has put Kamloops’s edition in the top 20 the last two years. In 2015 it landed in 20th, while last year it moved up a spot to 19th. Poirier hopes this year's edition cracks the top 10.
The firefighters also made a behind the scenes video about making the calendar. To learn more, click here.
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