The Airdrie community will get a chance to personally thank local first responders Sept. 8 at airdrieFEST's new Thank You Day. RCMP, EMS, Fire and Bylaw will be stationed at a booth in front of City Hall to say hello.
The idea for Thank You Day popped up last year thanks to Cruise Jackson, 2017’s Mayor for a Day. Jackson, 13, said he doesn’t think first responders get enough thanks.
“They help us out in our communities, and they deserve some respect,” he said.
He pitched the idea to council and Mayor Peter Brown, who, he said, thought it was a great idea. Then, during his day as mayor, Jackson had the opportunity to meet some of the very people he wanted to thank – and even got decked out in full firefighter's gear with Deputy Fire Chief Garth Rabel.
According to his mother, Brenda, Jackson is very patriotic – due in part, she said, to their very pro-military and police household. His vast collection of police and medical Hot Wheels speaks for itself, too, she added.
“I’m really proud of Cruise,” she said. “He’s come a long way, and I see great things for him. I’m just so happy the city is allowing him to do this.”
A booth will be open at airdrieFEST Sept. 8, where Jackson and his posse of first responders will be stationed with police cruisers, ambulances and fire trucks.
During the school year, Jackson and his mother asked schools across the city to put together thank you cards for Airdrie’s brave men and women, but Brenda said anyone is welcome to bring their own thank you cards to the booth.
Since Airdrie has grown beyond where residents know all of their neighbours, Brenda said it’s important to make connections with the growing number of first responders.
“Our community has grown so much,” she said. “It seems like we’re just getting more and more members for each [department]. You used to know who all of them were, but we are getting bigger. I think it’s good for everyone to be appreciative, and want to say thank you for helping out.”
Jackson has got a head start on that, his mother said, by making plenty of friends in all the City’s departments, as well as with Mayor Brown. It might help him in the future, she added, as Jackson said he’s planning to become a police officer.
For those who are officers now, he said, there’s more we can do to appreciate them beyond just one special day.
“Say thank you,” he said.
“Whenever you see them in the community in uniform,” Brenda continued. “Go up to them and say, ‘Thank you. Thank you for what you’re doing.’”
