Prime Minister Justin Trudeau extended his thanks to firefighters and other first responders during a Nova Scotia visit Monday, in the aftermath of the devastating wildfires that rocked the province this spring.
Trudeau arrived at fire station 50 at 2050 Hammonds Plains Rd. shortly after noon, where he spent some time with firefighters, taking pictures, shaking hands and speaking with them.
“Thank you for all the amazing work you did, pulling together in difficult times, being there for the community,” he told a crowd of firefighters at the station after snapping some group pictures.
“I know you’re in very scary situations regularly, and Canadians rely on you so deeply for everything you do. I want you to know how much everyone appreciates it.”
Trudeau later attended a first responder appreciation event at the St. Margaret’s Centre in Upper Tantallon, which also included other responders like Ground Search and Rescue and Department of Natural Resources and Renewables officials.
He said it’s been a “tough few years,” between the increasing prevalence of extreme weather due to climate change, as well as the ongoing impacts of the pandemic.
“You’ve always been there to step up in so many different ways, and you do it day in and day out, and we don’t get, often enough, opportunities to say thank you,” he said.
“Stepping up in times of difficulty, stepping forward to help people … every single day, it is something that we appreciate, so, so deeply. On behalf of all Canadians, I’m here to say thank you.”
Federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair also thanked the first responders for their “extraordinary work.”
“During the extraordinary fire events that we saw taking place here in Nova Scotia, we were always very mindful of the incredible work of the Halifax regional firefighting service, the volunteer firefighters, the search and rescue personnel and emergency managers,” said Blair.
“All of them were doing extraordinary work to fight these fires, and to keep their communities safe.”
Trudeau is scheduled to travel to Antigonish later in the afternoon to meet with Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston. He is also expected to deliver remarks at the Atlantic Economic Forum at 6 p.m. AT.
The wildfires that broke out in the Halifax area of Tantallon late last month forced more than 16,000 people to evacuate and destroyed around 150 homes. Most evacuees have since been able to return home.
Another fire that broke out in Shelburne County, in the southwestern area of the province, was the largest wildfire in provincial history, covering more than 235 square kilometres.
It prompted the evacuations of more than 6,000 people and destroyed about 60 homes and cottages. It was finally brought under control last week.
Experts have warned that Canada could see a record amount of burned land amid an “unprecedented” wildfire season this year. Ottawa has given federal assistance to at least three provinces: Nova Scotia, Alberta, and Quebec.
Despite the “very serious projections,” Canada is expected to have enough resources to cover the summer months, Trudeau said earlier this month.
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