Cherry Grove’s new Fire Hall & Grader Shop breaks ground

Left to right: Cherry Grove Ag & Community Hall president, Barry Machan, M.D. councillors Ben Fadeyiw, Don Slipchuk, Mike Krywiak, Reeve Barry Kalinski, BRFA Fire Chief Dan Heney, councillors Dana Swigart, and Josh Crick.

Cherry Grove residents can take one step closer to optimism and empowerment as Tuesday signified the beginning of construction for a new Fire Hall and Grader Shop in the community. 

The brief golden shovel sod-turning took place at the northwest corner of Highway 55 and Range Road 412, the future site of the facility, slated to be complete by spring 2025. 

A sense of vulnerability was especially felt last April after a string of arsons culminated in damage to the Post Office and the loss of the Church of Latter Day Saints building. 

“It’s been a long time coming,” said M.D. ward councillor Ben Fadeyiw. “We are a ways away from a hall, and the members on this end always had concerns about public safety. And also the feeling of helplessness.” 

M.D. council formally committed $5.5 million in the 2024 Capital Budget in response, feeling the need to improve resident’s sense of security. 

The build will be modeled after the recent Ardmore Fire Hall, and will be equipped with three grader bays, two firetruck bays, water cistern for filling up the firetruck, as well as training and office spaces.

“It’s overdue. We’ve had fire halls all over the M.D. and this corner has been left out,” said Reeve Barry Kalinski. 

“I want to thank council and Ben from the ward for getting this done. A lot of volunteers and community members are going to benefit. I think we’re going to have a great hall here.” 

As pointed out in recruiting drives, building a fire hall is one thing — manning a fire hall is another.

With the groundswell of support to do something, 60 residents attended an open house to gauge interest in becoming a volunteer firefighter, and 21 have filled out forms. The hope is to have trained firefighters ready for when the hall is operational.

“We need the rest of the 60 to contact the BRFA and Dan Heney and get that submission done. It’s going to be a proud moment for all the residents,” said Fadeyiw. 

“There’s definitely optimism and hope and the sense of helplessness is going to be gone.”

WATCH: Kalinski and Fadeyiw at groundbreaking