The Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs (OAFC) held their annual Kids Fire Safety Poster Contest in the fall of 2020. During Fire Prevention Week, October 4 - October 10, 2020, the Town of Petawawa Fire Department firefighters set up a one-day promotional Fire Prevention Awareness display outside of Rona Petawawa. Included in the promotional display was the information on how to register youth for the provincial Kids Fire Safety Poster Contest.
Through social media coverage of Fire Safety Week, a grade two (2) teacher from St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School noticed the contest and invited her students to participate. Ms. Jody Anne McDonald, a local resident of the Town of Petawawa, incorporated the contest into her curriculum content and her students became very excited.
“Within the classroom, art is often used as a wellness tool – a resource to express our inner feelings and emotions – a strategy for self-awareness and self-regulation. The students were eager to sharpen pencils and put ideas onto paper. The contest closed around the beginning of December so many students selected Christmas fire safety ideas. The creativity and conversations about fire safety were energetic.” - Ms. McDonald
The entries were sent to Ajax, Ontario and were limited to students 12 years of age and younger, who reside in Ontario. Recently, Ms. McDonald was contacted by the OAFC to notify her that one of her students; Miss Kali Barry, was the winner of the grand prize which was $500.00, a fire safety gift pack, tour of the local fire station, a ride in the fire truck, and named honorary fire chief for a day.
Chief Fire Prevention Officer (CFPO), Simon Brooks acknowledges this celebration is a huge credit to many individuals involved and very grateful to Rona Petawawa for allowing the Fire Department to promote Fire Safety at their store. “The entry forms were available at participating fire departments, Lowe’s, and RONA stores. We are a community that grows together. We are grateful for the support throughout the year but especially when we can get out in the community, interact with residents and really showcase the importance of Fire Safety.” – CFPO Brooks
On June 7, 2021 CFPO Brooks presented Kali Barry with her prize package. Kali was invited to tour the Petawawa fire stations, was presented with a certificate recognizing her as the honorary fire chief, a ride in a fire truck, and a prize package which was inclusive of a popcorn machine, smoke alarms, kid’s firefighter outfit and other cool items.
CFPO Brooks wishes to remind residents to check out the Fire Department’s page on the Town’s website (petawawa.ca) and to follow the department on Facebook for this year’s announcement of Fire Safety Week 2021, along with communications on fire safety and prevention, upcoming events, and promotions.
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For further information, contact:
Simon Brooks, Fire Chief Prevention Officer
Town of Petawawa
613-687-5536 ext. 2013