Fire Fighters Association of Ontario Celebrating 120th Anniversary in Brant County

Friday, 26 July 2019 at 13:57

Brant County will be hosting the 120th anniversary of the Fire Fighters Association of Ontario with a parade scheduled for the Long Weekend.

BRANT COUNTY - Close to 300 firefighters and their families are expected to attend this year's Fire Fighters Association of Ontario in Brant County.

Captain for the Paris Fire Station at the County of Brant and Co-Chair of the FFAO Convention Planning Committee, Mark Robinson says it's the first time they're hosting in 20 years.

"The Paris Firefighters Club, as one of the original charter members of FFAO, offered to host the 120th anniversary. We hosted the convention in 1999 in honour of the 100th anniversary” We are pleased to have this significant event back in the County."

Volunteer firefighters will be involved in a number of activities throughout the County, including training courses and an annual meeting. It starts this Sunday and it will run through to August 5th.

He says the events will be open to everyone.

"There are also a number of events that we invite everyone to join us."

The public is invited to attend the annual Craft and Vendor show at the Paris Agricultural Society, which will be on August 3rd and August 4th from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. There will be a variety of vendors, food trucks and activities for the whole family. The activities will include firefighter games and competitions, junior firefighter games and obstacle courses, Red Knights Motorcycle Club Show and Shine (Saturday only) and people are also allowed to check out the collection of antique fire trucks.

Donations will be accepted at the door.

The public is also invited to attend the Firefighters Association of Ontario Memorial Parade on August 4th. The parade honours the firefighters who have lost their life in the past year.

The parade will begin at 9:00 am at Kings Ward Park in Paris, before heading south on Broadway Street. It will turn east on Mechanic Street and end at the Cenotaph on the corner of Mechanic Street and Grand River Street North. The service at the Cenotaph will begin at 10:00 am.

Robinson says they're expecting to be a great event for the whole community.

"We are so honoured to host this event. We anticipate this will be a great week for the firefighters, their families and the entire community."

For more information about the public events, you can visit the County's website or the FFAO's website.