Fancy a dinner served to you by a team of Tri-City firefighters?
That’s what’s on the menu on Oct. 23 for VIP guests taking part in Night on Fire, the eighth annual gala for the Coquitlam Firefighters Charitable Society in partnership with the Port Coquitlam Firefighters Charitable Society.
Presented by Noura Homes, the gala is an “at-home” event this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with firefighters asking families to come to Mundy Road Elementary School to collect their meal and party boxes, as well as enjoy the on-site entertainment and activities with the firefighters.
Alternatively, guests can upgrade their tickets — at $50 per person — to have their meal boxes and bottle of sparking wine delivered to their door by the firefighters, who will arrive in the city fire truck.
Each party box includes:
- a three-course meal (kids’ meals options are available)
- craft beer
- a signature cocktail
- party décor
- a thank-you video
However, the orders must be in by Oct. 15.
Firefighter Trevor Demoskoff, president of the Coquitlam charity, said the gala “has been a staple of our fundraising for the last eight years, and our primary event to raise money for our programs.”
Among the causes that the societies support are Muscular Dystrophy Canada, BC Professional Firefighters Burn Fund, Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation, the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and its signature Nutritional Breakfast and Snack program, which was started in Coquitlam in 2013 and feeds School District 43 students in need; it also launched in 2019 in PoCo.
Today, there are more than 7,500 meals and more than 4,000 snacks served annually at participating schools in Coquitlam. And, during the 2019–20 academic year when COVID-19 closed schools, the PoCo firefighters’ society stepped up with 27,000 meals at three schools and created a voucher program for families that depend on the daily breakfast program.
50/50, ONLINE AUCTIONS
Still, for Tri-City residents who want to support the two charities in other ways, the gala offers different ways to give.
This year’s event also includes an online auction that goes live on Friday, as well as 50/50 tickets (the deadline is Oct. 29 for the Oct. 30 draw) and a silent auction.
The Coquitlam proceeds from the $80,000 target will be split with the Port Coquitlam crew 70/30, based on the size of their departments.
Sponsored in part by the Tri-City News, the gala is one of a dozen fundraisers hosted by the Coquitlam society: It has restarted its weekly meat draw at Woody’s Pub, and collects clothes at bins at the Burke Mountain and Mariner fire halls, for example.
Demoskoff said his group looks forward to next year when, it’s anticipated, the in-person gala will return. “But in the meantime, we'll do our best to throw a party that everyone can enjoy and is also safe,” he said.
• Go to coquitlamfirefighterscharity.com to place orders for meal boxes and 50/50 tickets, and to view the online auction prizes.
