The Upper Clearwater Volunteer Fire Brigade (UCVFB) has received more great news following the recent donation of more than 10 acres of land from Upper Clearwater residents Fritz and Ursula Schaer.
Wells Gray Tour owners Roland and Anne Neave have now made a generous offer to match donations (to a maximum of $2,000) to the UCVFB from now through January 2025.
The announcement was made on the brigade’s Facebook page on Dec. 12, along with plans for the construction of “Schaer Hall,” which will be built on the 10-acre parcel donated by the Schaers and named in their honour.
“Plans for the permanent new base of operations have already gotten underway with a team discussing logistics, access to a reliable water source and how to position the building along with the type of structure that will serve the area best,” said Cathy Armstrong, newly elected president of the UCVFB, when speaking with the Clearwater Times on Dec. 14.
"Fritz and Ursula Schaer were very generous to Upper Clearwater with their donation of 10.27 acres for a future fire hall site," Roland Neave told the Times. "Now it is up to everyone else to donate towards the new building.
"Anne and I have started the ball rolling with a $2,000 donation from our business, Wells Gray Gateway Guesthouse. This will provide matching funds for other donors up to a total of $2,000. After the fire brigade gets charitable status, the tax benefits of a personal donation are excellent and, in the meantime, businesses can write off the donation as a company expense. So we urge everyone, whether they live and work in Upper Clearwater or elsewhere, to help this important project reach reality."
Armstrong is the former executive director for The Land Conservancy of B.C. and "fell in love with Wells Gray Park" during her time working in that capacity within the area starting in 2018. Since then, Armstrong and her partner have moved to Upper Clearwater, and have been what she calls “new residents” for the past 18 months.
“Wells Gray Park is such a thriving habitat and an amazing place for the wildlife to human interface that co-exists here," she said. "With the challenges of climate change and unpredictable things like lightning strikes during peak wildfire season, we have to be prepared.
"Having trained professionals like the team we have in the UCVFB established in a permanent base is a priority in protecting the park we love, tourism, and our homes here. I have the administrative and fundraising experience and agreed to accept the role as president of the society during the recent AGM on Dec. 6 in that capacity, leaving the firefighting side to the experts on our brigade team.”
With the announcement of the Neaves' matching donations through the month of January came another significant donation: a radio tower from the Wells Gray Amateur Radio Club, which has also offered to assist the brigade moving forward. The radio club treasurer, Cliff Olson, said “We have a tower for a repeater donated by Doug Fenwick and a repeater and antenna from myself to cover all of Upper Clearwater. We are looking forward to supporting the UCVFB and assisting in the installation.”
Armstrong encourages anyone wishing to participate in the matching donation offer from the Neaves to send an e-transfer directly to upperclearwatervfb@gmail.com. Anyone with questions about, or interest in, the UCVFB can email them at this address.
“All donations large and small would be greatly appreciated and acknowledged," said Armstrong. "We are so thankful for the support of so many in the valley as we establish a permanent home base for the Upper Clearwater Volunteer Fire Brigade for the protection of one and all.”
