North Oyster Fire Rescue hopes to start training volunteers next month prior to integrating new recruits into their department. (NOFR)

By Ian Holmes

serve and protect

“It gives you a real sense of pride:’ North Oyster Fire Rescue launches recruiting drive

Jan 14, 2023 | 7:11 AM

NANAIMO — A volunteer fire department serving the rural Yellow Point area hopes a pending recruiting drive will add reinforcements to their ranks.

North Oyster Fire Rescue (NOFR) deputy chief Tony Marcotte said they have a variety of opportunities for people to expand their skill-sets and immerse themselves into the community.

“From helping out at motor vehicle incidents to helping people at first responder calls and also some rope rescue as well,” Marcotte said.

most NOFR’s wide range of training programs are done in-house and free of charge.

Currently NOFR has 16 members, which Marcotte said is enough to serve the community.

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“It’s not dangerously low or anything like that, but it’s not as high as we’d like.”

Marcotte said recruiting over the past couple years been a challenging grind.

“During COVID it was very difficult both to do the recruiting as well as people obviously were much more leery about going in and meeting a bunch of people they don’t know.”

People over the age of 16 interested in volunteering their time with the department can fill out an application at novfd.ca.

Alternately, Marcotte said people can visit their hall where they train weekly Tuesday night’s at 7 p.m. at 4821 Yellow Point. Rd.

Marcotte said being a member of NOFR offers their members the opportunity to continually enhance their skills in a team oriented environment.

“What’s most important for a lot of people is a bigger sense of community involvement, community belonging and it gives you a real sense of pride,” Marcotte told NanaimoNewsNOW.

NOFR serves area H of the Cowichan Valley Regional District home to about 2,700 people.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes