On June 11, 2025, Emergency Support Services volunteers and staff gathered for an evening of appreciation, connection, and cultural sharing.
The Emergency Support Services appreciation event brought together dedicated team members from Kamloops, Kelowna, the Columbia Shuswap Regional District, Barriere, and Chase, along with Kamloops Red Cross volunteers and staff from the City of Kamloops, Tḱemlúps te Secwépemc, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, and the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness.
Volunteers were treated to a tour of the Provincial Regional Emergency Operations Centre, an opportunity to explore the behind-the-scenes hub that coordinates emergency response across the region. This experience deepened participants’ understanding of the broader emergency management system and the vital role Emergency Support Services plays within it.
The evening event, hosted by the Tḱemlúps te Secwépemc Emergency Preparedness Program at the Powwow Arbour, blended casual connection and cultural richness, featuring a shared meal, storytelling, and the exchange of traditional knowledge. It was an opportunity to build connections with neighbouring Emergency Support Service communities; to honour and show respect for the people, the territories, and the lands that house emergency work, the shared relationships, and commitment to emergency preparedness; and to celebrate the tireless efforts of Emergency Support Services volunteers—individuals who show up in times of crisis with compassion, calm, and commitment.
Emergency Support Services responders and emergency department staff understand that true resilience is rooted in relationships with one another and with the land. This gathering offered a meaningful opportunity to connect, share, and grow together on these unceded ancestral territories.
Appreciation events like this are more than just a thank you. They are a powerful reminder of the human heart behind emergency response. They:
- strengthen bonds across communities and agencies
- foster cultural understanding and respect
- reinforce a shared sense of purpose as preparations for the challenges of wildfire season and beyond are made
This gathering was made possible through support from the Union of BC Municipalities’ Indigenous Cultural Safety and Cultural Humility Training program, which helps local governments and First Nations collaboratively deliver emergency services that are inclusive, respectful, and culturally grounded.
