Front row, left to right: Sgt. Pat Madderon, Canadian Forces Reserves; Ron Van Houten, B.C. Emergency Health Services; Brian McLeod, Richmond Fire; and Superintendent Will Ng, Richmond RCMP officer in charge. Back row left to right: Cpl. Dave Winberg; Cpl. Kevin Krygier; Councilor Bill McNulty; Councilor Derek Dang; Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie; Rabbi Yechiel Baitelman; and Peter Tellis, Richmond Fire. (photo from Chabad of Richmond)
More than 400 people came out on May 18 to show their appreciation for Richmond’s first responders, including the RCMP, Richmond Fire and Rescue, BC Ambulance and the Canadian Armed Forces. The First Responders Appreciation Event was held in conjunction with Richmond RCMP Police Week.
Presented by Chabad of Richmond, the festivities featured a kosher hot dog barbeque. Sergeant Safety Bear was on hand to meet the kids, and attendees got the chance to learn more about their local police. There was also free Project 529 bike registration, a chance for young people to try out the Youth Police Academy and a scavenger hunt. Donations were collected for the Jewish Food Bank.
Other event sponsors included Sneg Mortgage Team, SOS Emergency Response Technologies, ER Plus Risk Management, Vision Plus, Kehila Society, Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver and Real Canadian Superstore. The get-together offered people the opportunity to “strengthen bonds with faith-based communities,” said Chabad of Richmond’s Rabbi Yechiel Baitelman.