Mayor sets example, puts out fire
Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (May 09/01) - Gord Van Tighem and other city officials were putting out fires of a different sort Monday.
The mayor, along with a retinue of about a dozen other senior staff kicked off North American Occupational Safety and Health Week by taking a fire safety course.
One by one, the officials walked up, fire extinguisher in hand, to a long shallow pan filled with burning oil.
It was the culmination of 50 minutes of training on how to properly put out fires.
Van Tighem squeezed the extinguisher once, to make sure it was charged, then attacked the smoky blaze. Sweeping slowly from side to size, he had the fire extinguished in seconds.
Afterwards, the mayor said the experience was "reminiscent of Boy Scouts, which was the last time I ever used one of these."
Gerda Groothuizen, the firefighter putting the pupils through their paces was impressed.
"They all got it out," said Groothuizen, "which is amazing."
NAOSH Week got its start in 1987, and the NWT began its involvement with the program in 1994. It is now held in Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
The objective of the week is to focus attention of workers, employees, and the general public on the importance of workplace health and safety.
In addition to fire fighting by the city fathers, a full slate of activities has been planned for Yellowknife.
Government, employers, and labour organizations are hosting video lunches for staff, and information displays have been organized for local malls and the Yellowknife Trade Show.
A committee of young workers has prepared a health and safety quiz for Yellowknife high schools, and will be distributing posters and information sheets to businesses in the city that employ workers.
