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EDITORIAL: Local heroes become economic heroes in Comox

Firefighters from Comox Fire Rescue are historically selfless - at work, and away.
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Firefighters from Comox Fire Rescue are historically selfless - at work, and away.

There’s no need to expand upon the selfless work they do when a call comes in - putting their lives at risk to keep others safe. It’s what they do, and we are grateful.

It’s the other things Comox firefighters do that further accentuates their commitment to their community. From fundraisers, to their ongoing infrastructure initiative of donating defibrillators to organizations and public buildings, their concern for the general well-being of the community at large is consistently expressed - in action, more so than words.

Their latest initiative is another great example.

In the past week, members of CFD have visited 12 Comox restaurants - businesses that were all forced to shut their doors during the COVID-19 restrictions, and that are now trying to re-establish their operations and clientele - and have given them a bit of a boost.

CFD members have bought $250 in gift certificates from each of the 12 restaurants - $3,000 in total.

They will use them amongst themselves.

Fire Chief Gord Schreiner said that many of his volunteers are small business owners themselves and they were all looking for a way to help kick-start the local economy.

“We are a little bit frustrated that we can’t do what we normally do in terms of fundraising and that, so we all threw $50 in a hat and bought some gift certificates. It’s a bit self-serving - we will use them ourselves. But the idea is, you take a family member out for dinner and see if you can double that $50 into $100 for that restaurant, and generate some business.”

It’s a simple way to help out our favourite establishments.

“Now is certainly the time to shop locally when we can,” said Schreiner. “If we all do a little thing like this… it’s all about helping each other, because helping each other helps us all.”

It’s a great concept that any business, organization, or family, can do. And it’s an easy way for anyone to become a community economic hero.