Wild, Wild West ladies night

Times Reporter

 

The Wild, Wild West is the theme of this year’s ladies night being hosted by the Strathmore Rural Fire Department (SRFD) on Oct. 13.  This year marks 11 years since the SRFD firefighters association began its annual major fundraiser. Each year the theme may change, but the goal of raising whatever they can for equipment has always stayed the same. 

“It’s our big fundraiser of the year so proceeds that we get from this go towards equipment that we feel is necessary for our department,” said SFRD firefighter Jesse MacDonnell. 

“So this year we kind of picked the wild, wild west I think partly because it was the 100th year of the Calgary Stampede even though it’s three or four months later. 

“We haven’t done a Wild, Wild, West theme and we have a rodeo of our own, the Heritage Days, it’s one we haven’t picked. Everyone likes dressing up western so that was kind of what we decided as an association.” 

The county will pay for personal equipment and new trucks, things along those lines but if the department would like to get a certain tool on their truck that isn’t a must-have, then the funds from the ladies night will go towards such items. In the past they have purchased hose and hose appliances to compliment what they have, extraction gloves and other necessities that may be deemed ‘extras.’

This year the department bought a new-to-them pickup truck. They are hoping to have it become a bush buggy by adding a little pump, emergency lighting and decals. MacDonnell said it will be nice to have a ‘new’ bush buggy since some of the other bush buggies are getting a little older. 

The night starts with cocktails at 5 p.m. on Oct. 13. A buffet-style supper will then be served around 6 p.m. and the live band, Station Kitty, begins playing at 9 p.m. 

“We’ve got a new band this year, they’re all firefighters from the Calgary area,” said MacDonnell. 

There are two bars to serve drinks and there is a VIP table that is auctioned off. The VIP table will get to pick the firefighter of their choice to be the table’s ‘slave’ for the night. MacDonnell said the demographic ranges from 18-year-old women up to 65-year-old women. Between the door prizes, grand prize, dinner, drinks, games and the band, MacDonnell thinks there is plenty of fun for everyone. 

Tickets are $50/each and it will be held at the Civic Centre. If a full book of eight tickets are purchased a table can be reserved. Tickets are available at ProWater and NV Hair & Body Studio.