Ecum Secum Fire Brigade seeks municipal funding to help build new facility

Mar. 18, 2024, Ecum Secum, N.S. – On behalf of the Ecum Secum Volunteer Fire Brigade, Deputy Chief Andrew Pace presented a request for grant funding to council during the March 6 St. Mary’s Council of the Whole (COTW) meeting in Sherbrooke. According to Pace, the Brigade is looking to partner with various levels of government, to find and purchase land on which to build a new facility to replace the current one.

The decades-old structure is in a serious state of disrepair, and as reported by Alec Bruce in the Feb 14 edition of The Journal, it needs work on its roof, floor, walls, and electrical system. “The hall has lost its official comfort center designation, and is no longer a warming center due to the lack of handicap bathrooms, and the fact that the kitchen is a mess,” local firefighter Tiffany Pye told Bruce during her interview. The firehall facility is one of the only gathering centers in the Ecum Secum area, as other facilities have been shut down.

Pace told council the existing building is not suitable to accommodate accessibility standards which will come into effect by 2030, and its location near the ocean means the aging structure is subject to high winds and possible flooding during storms, and salt continues to cause serious damage. Nor is there enough space to provide adequate parking. The organization has concluded that a new location and building is the best way to move forward for the community.

“The Brigade has a goal of finding a more suitable location and building a nearly one million dollar facility. The facility will house fire trucks and equipment,” stated Pace. “The space will include an accessible community kitchen and (meet) all requirements to become a municipal warming center, as well as creating an area for economic activity, such as offices, or a space for a small business that can be rented or leased.”

Pace explained that due to the fact the Brigade has aging fire trucks and equipment, all resources the organization has are currently going into equipment so that fire services can continue in Ecum Secum and nearby communities, meaning there have not been enough resources to put into the facility.

According to Pace, members of the community are ready to dig in and do what they can themselves, by holding fundraising events and more. He said the Brigade is optimistic that with support and additional funding from various levels of government, they will be able to bring the project to fruition, pointing to the fact that last year community volunteers raised enough money through fundraising events and government funding to build a $100,000 playground. Funding from the Municipality will go towards early planning requirements for the project, such as having an engineered design created for a new facility, development of a business plan and fundraising strategy, and starting the process of finding a new property for the new building. The Ecum Secum Fire Brigade is asking the Municipality for a contribution of $60,000.

Fundraising is now underway by the Brigade to help with start-up costs of the project. The organization has also reached out to MP Sean Fraser and MLA Greg Morrow to receive guidance for the early stages of the project.