Firing overshadows opening of hall

By Jennifer Smith - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 12, 2008

There’s not a lot of excitement as Coldstream’s firefighters move into a new building that houses so many controversial issues. The department’s new hall is finally finished, since it was initially slated for an Aug. 1 completion, which was moved to Aug. 15, and didn’t transpire until more than three weeks later. The Lavington Fire Department is also just wrapping up on the final touches and was expected to be completed today.But it isn’t the time line that is dampening what is supposed to be a happy occasion. Building support for a new fire hall was something the Coldstream department’s former chief Leo Lecavalier had promoted for years. When the District of Coldstream agreed that it was time the department had more space to operate, and after residents voted to borrow $4 million for the construction, Lecavalier was involved in the process.From member requests and basic and future needs, he worked to organize the priorities, necessities and desires for the new hall. When he noticed that certain things were not being built as requested, he questioned them. Then before the new fire department was even finished, Coldstream council voted to dismiss Lecavalier from the fire department.

So as firefighters move out of the nearly 50-year-old hall that houses so many positive memories, there are some solemn feeling about moving over to the new hall representing so many negative thoughts. “It’s just not the same, for sure,” said acting chief Lawrie Skolrood. “It’s had its issues.” Those feelings aside, when it comes to the department’s thoughts about how the hall has turned out, they’re diverse. “It’s mixed,” said Skolrood. “We have people that are not happy with it and we have people that are extremely happy to be into a new hall.” One excitement about the new hall on Aberdeen Road is being somewhere dry. The old, 1960s-built hall on Kalamalka Road has a leaky roof, which is creating structural damage. “When it rains, it pours,” explained Skolrood. “It was like a shower in there when it rained.”But the new roof is being replaced as the Friends of the Library, along with a few public works staff, move into the building. The Coldstream Fire Department is also still in the process of moving some of its equipment, while the basic necessary items such as the trucks have been moved. Despite any feelings the members have, their priority remains the same. “Our focus is to maintain the same level of fire protection everyone is used to,” said Skolrood. Despite some community rumours that members of the fire department have quit, Skolrood says that isn’t the case.But, he adds: “There’s certainly lots of discussion in that matter.” Despite some concerns about how the members have been treated, Skolrood says they are trying to keep it together for the community, because that’s what Lecavalier would have done.