There is no doubt that the first responders were crucial to the successful evacuation when the wildfire hit, and many people owe these professionals a big debt of gratitude. The Family Christian Centre provided gift baskets to 187 first responders as a way of showing appreciation and saying thank you for all that these men and women did during a time of need in the community. The gift baskets were delivered to Fire Hall #1 last week, and each basket has a value of approximately $100. There is a $50 Boston Pizza gift certificate, a bottle of wine that is non-alcoholic, and an assortment of snacks and tidbits as well. The Centre is not the first to offer thank you gifts and tokens of appreciation. According to municipality deputy chief of operations Brad Grainger “It’s a heck of a gesture. We’ve continued to receive, almost from June 6 on, a daily thank you from all of the citizens, everything from cupcakes to dinners to pizza to now these wonderful baskets. It’s been pretty continuous.”

The gift baskets for first responders is not limited to the 187 dropped off at the fire hall either. The centre also planned on providing more than 200 gift baskets to the Fort McMurray RCMP detachment the very next day as well. Family Christian Centre executive director Brian Bursey, who helped to deliver the gift baskets, explained “We really just wanted to, as a church, show appreciation to them and recognize them for what they did. They put their lives on the line. Some had their houses burn but still went on fighting anyway.” It is a nice gesture and one that is greatly appreciated.