The Nanoose Volunteer Fire Department has received a sizable donation from the now-dissolved Pacific Shares Owner Enterprises Time Share Association.
The group, which sold all their 61 units at Pacific Shore in Nanoose in 2019, presented the fire chief Doug Penny a check worth $47,000 at the fire hall on Friday afternoon, July 24.
“The Nanoose fire department has always helped us at Pacific Shores,” said former chair Kate Britton, who was assisted by the group’s treasurer Harry Felsing and director Rick De Wolf. “They’ve always ensured the safety of our guest and advising our strata on fire safety regulations and requirement.”
Having dissolved the association that was incorporated May 7, 1991, De Wolf said under B.C. law they are not legally allowed to keep any money left over from the sales of the units.
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Britton said once all the expenses and other financial obligations were disbursed, the group agreed to donate the excess $47,000 to the fire department.
Penny is grateful for the donation, the biggest the department has ever received. He indicated that the funds will provide a huge help.
“It goes a long way to help us offset our budget,” said Penny. “All the requirements that come up, equipment that needs to be replaced and some of the tools we need, we don’t get because we’re spending money on buying stuff because of a date.”
Penny said one of the things they will use the money for is to buy a specialized communication system firefighters must have whenever they enter a building that is on fire.
“They need to be able to communicate to the outside fire ground,” said Penny. “It’s really difficult. So it’s unique equipment and it’s very expensive.”