Granum Fire Academy celebrates achievement of nine students

By Rob Vogt
It was a chance to shine a spotlight on the high school students who have been working hard all year long learning the skills of a firefighter.
The Granum Fire Academy Class of 2024 held a celebration on June 19 at the Granum Fire Hall, where students were recognized for their achievements.
The Class of 2024 is:
• Quynlen Darragh;
• Brooklyn Glavin;
• Lyric Greenwood;
• Gage Hogg;
• Cowen Linklater;
• Quinn Vanee;
• Jocelyne Van Herk;
• Ashley Watson;
• Rowan Watson.
Three special awards were also handed out:
• Brooklyn Glavin, firefighter academic excellence award;
• Gage Hogg, most improved firefighter award;
• Quinn Vanee, firefighter excellence award.
They gained experience that involved earning their first aid certificates, breaking down doors, carrying 170 pound dummies down stairs, finding their way through smokey rooms, crawling through small spaces with 50 pounds of gear on, and being inside a room with a live fire.
Upon completion of the academy students were prepared to write provincial exams earning them the qualifications to be volunteer fire fighters and giving them a leg up on getting into post secondary programs.
This year students came from Claresholm, Fort Macleod, and a large number from Lundbreck.
“It was an opportunity to learn and find their passion,” said Shannon Fraser, one of the leaders at the academy and a family school liaison counsellor with the Livingstone Range School Division.
“It was a huge commitment on their part,” she added, noting the students gave up their Friday afternoons.
Duncan McLean is the lead instructor and deputy chief of public safety.
He said he wanted to instill a sense of community, and the importance of working together. He hoped the students would carry on and contribute to their communities, hopefully as firefighters.
Randy Bohnet is the principal of Granum School, who oversees the program as students can also earn up to nine high school credits.
“I commend you guys for heading down that path,” he told the students. “(For) the committment that it takes and the contribution to society.”