Camrose Fire Department remembers 9/11

By Lori Larsen

On October 18, eligible voters of the City of Camrose will be heading to the polls to vote in the municipal election.

Voters can cast votes for City of Camrose mayor and eight councillors for a four-year term.

Currently, the following people have filed their intention to run in the City election.

For the position of mayor, the candidates are: incumbent Max Lindstrand and incumbent PJ Stasko.

For the positions of councillor, the candidates are: Lucas Banack, Larissa Berlin, Lana Broker, Tom Calhoun, Julie Girard, Agnes Hoveland, DJ Ilg, Doug MacKay, Joy-Anne Murphy, Don Rosland, Wyatt Tanton, Robbyn Thompson and Geoffrey Ryan Turnquist.

Voters will be required to show proof of identity and current residence. For more details on what qualifies as proof of identity and residence, visit the City of Camrose website at www.camrose.ca/en/your-government/voterinformation.aspx.

In an effort to keep all residents/voters and volunteers safe and reduce the possible spread of COVID-19, advance voting opportunities have been increased and are located in a larger facility to reduce the numbers of voters at any voting station at a given time.

The Advance Voting station will be located at the former Augustana Gym at the Recreation Centre to provide more layout room.

Any resident may vote at an Advance Voting opportunity.

Advance Voting will be held on the following dates: • October 8, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. • October 13, from 1 until 7 p.m. • October 14, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. • October 15, from 1 until 7 p.m. • October 16, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Special (mail-in) Ballots are also available to eligible voters who are unable to make it to an Advance Vote or Election Day (Monday, October 18) voting station because they are: physically incapacitated; absent from the local jurisdiction (City of Camrose); an election worker, candidate, official agent or scrutineer who may be located on Election Day at a voting station other than that for the voter’s place of residence.

Application for a special ballot may be made by any one of the following methods: in writing, by email, telephone, fax or in person at City Hall. A “Request for Special Ballot Package Application” is available online on the City of Camrose website or by contacting the Returning Officer, Kim Isaak, at kisaak@camrose.ca or at 780-678-3027.

Special (mail-in) Ballot packages will be available starting Tuesday, September 28.

Completed Special (mail-in) Ballots must be received by the Returning Officer (5204-50 Avenue) by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, October 15 in order to be counted. Special (mail-in) Ballots will not be accepted at Advance Vote or Election Day Stations.

For more information on the process for Special (mailin) Ballots, visit the City of Camrose website at www. camrose.ca/en/your-government/voter-information.aspx.

Voting stations will be set up at designated times on October 18 at the following institutions (for residents of that facility only): • Deer Meadows • Brookside • Faith House • Viewpoint • Rosealta • Rosehaven • Louise Jensen • Bethany Meadows • Seasons

Election Day Voting Stations (for general public) will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on October 18 at the following locations: Mirror Lake Centre (5415-49 Avenue); Community Centre Field House (4516-54 Street), Norsemen Inn (6505-48 Avenue) and CRE (4250 Exhibition Drive).

The City of Camrose will be offering free bus service to and from the Norsemen Inn, Mirror Lake Centre and the Community Centre Fieldhouse voting stations for voters, particularly with transportation concerns. “More details will follow on the bus service,” said City of Camrose returning officer/deputy manager Kim Isaak.

“The City will not be offering the free bus service to the CRE, because it is a bit too far to include in the hourly route.

“We would like to encourage individuals who do have their own transportation to go out to the CRE as we will have more voting tabulators at that location, which may make it a faster voting location.”

Elections for local school boards, Battle River Regional Division No. 31 and Elk Island Catholic Separate Regional Division No. 41, occur on the same day as the City of Camrose.

Visit the City of Camrose website at www.camrose.ca/en/your-government for complete details on the October 18 election.

Lori Larsen, Camrose Booster

Camrose Fire Department Honour Guard, Sergeant of Arms firefighter Len Chartrand ran a ceremonial bell to commemorate the beginning and end of firefighters’ shifts.

Lori Larsen, Camrose Booster

Camrose Fire Department Chief Peter Krich, right, and Deputy Chief Joe Mah placed helmets on a table in honour of all fallen firefighters.

By Lori Larsen

Saturday, September 11 marked the 20th anniversary honouring the 2,977 lives lost, the sacrifices made, and the changes our world underwent as the result of the horrific acts of terrorists.

On September 11, 2001, at 8:45 a.m., the shatter of the north tower of the World Trade Centre

in New York City that was struck by a jetliner at the control of terrorists, was felt around the world.

In honour of all those who lost their lives and all those forever impacted, memorials have been set up at the original World Trade Centre site in New York City, at the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia and in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Out of the dust settling around the events of that day came a flood of heroes: who risked everything to help those who may have otherwise perished.

Regular citizens, volunteers and all emergency service personnel never gave a second thought to the peril in which they put their own lives in order to save others.

An estimated 17,400 people had been in the Twin Towers that fateful morning, of which approxi-

mately 87 per cent were safely evacuated thanks to the courage and heroic efforts of New York City police officers, Port Authority police officers and New York (area) firefighters.

But the losses to the brethren of emergency services was heavy, with 343 firefighters and paramedics, 23 New York City police officers and 37 Port Authority police officers making the ultimate sacrifice and losing their lives.

During a solemn ceremony held on Saturday, September 11 from 10:30 until 11:30 a.m., members of the Camrose Fire Department and honourary guests paid a somber tribute to the lives and those who gave their lives during the 9/11 attacks.

“On September 11, 2001, 20 years ago, we saw the tragedy unfold in New York City as the Twin Towers were hit resulting in the loss of many lives, including 343 firefighters,” noted Camrose Fire Chief Peter Krich.

“Saturday, September 11, 2021 was a time when the world’s communities recognized and honoured the sacrifices that firefighters make to ensure that their communities and environment are as safe as possible.”

In a symbolic gesture of support, Camrose Fire Department Chief Peter Krich and Deputy Chief Joe Mah placed firefighters’ helmets on a table in honour of all the fallen firefighters.

“The members of the Camrose Fire Department, led by our Honour Guard,

held a special memorial service at the Fire Station to remember those who were “Lost but not forgotten” with a special Bell Ceremony and prayer.”

It is because of the dedication of these incredibly selfless people (for the most part, volunteers) that we are able to feel a sense of security in our own community.

Thank you for answering the call.