A long-standing community service and cultural hub in the heart of the Margarees
November 5, 2024
By Miranda Crabtree
On a humid Saturday evening in July, I’m sitting at the Margaree Firefighters Club to talk shop with Sandy Doucette, a long-standing member of Margaree Volunteer Fire Department, and its current deputy chief. Inside the club it’s a comfortable, laid-back atmosphere – perfect for unwinding after work and enjoying the remains of the day. Sandy joined the MVFD in 1998 and served as fire chief from 2002 to 2009. He returned as deputy chief in 2019 after a few years off duty and for the last few years has been second in command to Fire Chief Bobby McLeod.
As we chat, Sandy gives me a fascinating CliffsNotes history of the department, which was formed in 1957.
What began as a single fire station in Margaree Forks, expanded to two stations, when a Belle Côte fire in the early 1980’s raged too quickly to be controlled. The trucks at the Forks were too far away to get to the fire in time to save the building. This spurred the decision to create a second firestation in Belle Côte in 1983 to bridge the driving distance and prevent future destruction.
For the past two years, the MVFD has answered close to 50 calls each year. The 40 volunteer firefighters are connected via individual pagers, alerting them to emergency calls within their district. In a gesture of mutual aid, the Margaree firefighters may extend support outside their defined responding area, for example neighbouring North East Margaree. This provides extra hands and equipment – as long as they’re not otherwise occupied and can spare the resources.
Most frequently, the department is kept busy answering medical first response (MFR) calls.
These can be both motor vehicle accident (MVA) calls, and medical emergencies. Based in two stations which flank the community at the Forks and Belle Côte, firefighters are trained first responders, and they are often the first to any emergency.
Evolving services
As the local population ages, this means the nature of calls becomes more diverse – and the calls themselves more frequent. Firefighters are responding not only to fires and collisions, but to anything from falls to other medical emergencies.
The firefighters have an ever-expanding range of duties, and they keep their skills sharp through weekly drills, in addition to regular meetings held at the club which abuts the Margaree Forks station. The commitment of time and energy that this close- knit group voluntarily gives to the community, their hard work, along with the shared witnessing of devastating scenes, builds strong bonds.
As Sandy says, “we take care of each other. We get together regularly and talk it out, make sure no one is taking in more than they can handle.”
“Things have changed for the better with the newer generations: there isn’t a stigma around talking through the things you see on the job,” he explains. “The pressure to hold things in isn’t there in the same way, which is important progress.”
Strong leadership within the department is evident. The health of the team is understood as crucial to its optimum functioning, and the care and professionalism demonstrated within this group of 40 community members is actively practised towards the folks they serve.
These days, the MVFD covers operating costs thanks to a fire tax which is paid by the local land-owning constituency. This tax is integral to maintaining their fleet of trucks as well as funding improvements to the station buildings, including a recent extension to the newer Belle Côte station.
The equipment
Big ticket items like firetrucks run in the ballpark of $350k. Sandy tells me that the trucks need to be replaced every 10 years to ensure they are in tip top shape.
“We’ve got a new truck being built currently – it’s a walk-around rescue vehicle, funded in part by Chase the Ace money. We hope the truck will join our fleet by the end of this year.”
The truck, replacing an older model which will then retire, keeps the fleet steady at four trucks total; two at each station. The Chase the Ace fundraiser of 2019 Sandy was mentioning was a great success, as funds raised also went towards building the Belle Côte station extension.
“The addition of the Belle Côte station is perfect; the location on the other end of the community means we are able to get to anyone in time at almost equal distance from each station, which benefits the response success of the fire team greatly.”
Sandy’s faith in the rallying power of local support for the fire department is palpable.
The Club
The Margaree Firefighters Club operates financially independently from the station, yet is integral to the ecosystem of the MVFD. Sandy and I, as well as several regulars, sit around the beautiful new bespoke Larch Wood bartop, with Maril Crowley serving behind the bar.
I recall Maril crafting an April Fools post in 2023 on the firehall’s social media account, in her typical comic form. It comprised an image of the SW Margaree bridge photoshopped to appear newly outfitted entirely in Larch Woods’ iconic wood mosaic patterning, with the caption ‘Margaree Bridge decking to be replaced by Larch Wood’.
Though not a bridge, the generous donation of this expansive bar is a testament to the growing collection of improvements the organization sees, both big and small.
Maril has swiftly expanded the cultural programming that the club offers, including continuing to showcase homegrown talent and support local festivities for all ages.
“I started as a temporary casual spare at the firehall back in 2021, which has since turned into a managerial promotion and three more years,” she says.
Maril is full of energy and ideas that she quickly acts on, many with great success. These initiatives include: Thirsty Thursdays featuring local singer- songwriter talent from all over Cape Breton, continuing to host the pool and dart leagues, new maker markets like hallowe’en’s Creepmas which features an eclectic range of local artisans and, the longstanding square dances and celebrations, and more recently the popular karaoke nights hosted by Jonathan Andrews.
A vibrant community hub
It is hard to believe the amount of convivial energy that is packed into the unassuming roadside bungalow on any given day or night. From volunteering at the summer chicken bbq fundraiser, donating their artisan products for raffles, or 92-year-old Bill Cameron calling a rollicking square dance with local musicians Chrissy Crowley and Colin Grant, many folks consider the club their second home – and with good reason.
The club building is turning 55 years old this September, but it sure doesn’t look it. Steady, continuous support through dedicated fundraising, strong leadership, and a passionate and committed bar manager for their beloved clubhouse ensures that the fire department is sailing into the future in fine form. With better equipment, a solid team, and a vibrant social scene, there is much to celebrate when off duty.
The 55-year anniversary party at the club this September 28 will feature a local Cape Breton band and plenty of room to dance. It’s a fitting example of how the firefighters work hard while making space to invite the community in to celebrate.
As the Margarees continue to grow, residents can rest assured there is plenty to look forward to now and in the coming years, both in respect to their safety and of the health and creativity of the community.