A new welcome pole now faces out from the Nanaimo Fire Station No. 1 at the corner of Fitzwilliam St. and Milton St. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

officially open

Traditional welcome pole unveiled outside brand new Nanaimo Fire Station 1

Jun 22, 2023 | 3:26 PM

NANAIMO — The City’s newest fire station and emergency operations centre is officially open and welcomed with a piece of traditional First Nations art.

Snuneymuxw First Nation carver Noel Brown presented a red cedar welcome pole, situated on the west side of the station at the corner of Fitzwilliam St. and Milton St. The ceremony, on Wednesday, June 21, also officially opened the new fire station although crews have been making use of the facility for months.

The pole includes an eagle, a bear, a box of treasures and a wolf, speaking to courage, strength, cherished items and protection respectively.

“First responders are the backbone of our community, fearlessly putting their lives on the line to help their neighbours,” Snuneymuxw First Nation Chief Mike Wyse said. “As you continue down your noble path, this pole, carved by my brother Noel, will guard and protect you, helping you through the challenges ahead.”

Brown is also responsible for the 50-foot-tall welcome pole at Maffeo Sutton Park and has carved a multitude of pieces dating back to the mid-1990s.

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Noel Brown unveiled his latest piece, positioned outside the new No. 1 Fire Station in downtown Nanaimo, during a ceremony on Wednesday, June 21. (City of Nanaimo)

Nanaimo Fire Rescue crews have been taking advantage of their new No. 1 fire hall since August 2022, with an initial phased transfer which has since been completed.

The building is larger, more modern and seismically sound and will not only serve as a fire hall but also an emergency operations centre in the event of a major disaster.

The 23,000-square-foot facility also has office space, a kitchen, dorm rooms and equipment storage.

Coming in at roughly $20 million, which was around $3 million over an initial 2018 budget and alternate approval process, the new facility will save thousands every year in operational costs.

The pole includes an eagle, a bear, treasure box and wolf to symbolize protection, strength and many other attributes often linked to firefighters and their duties. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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