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Cafe honours firefighters at ceremony Museum opens new facility with special luncheon
Cody Punter
Northern News Services
Published Friday, June 21, 2013
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Mayor Mark Heyck still remembers the cold December morning when he got the call from his boss, director of the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, Barb Cameron. It was Boxing Day 2011, and at the time he worked as website and multi-media co-ordinator.
"She told me to get a message up on the website to tell people we were closed. When I asked her what had happened she told me that there had been a fire," said Heyck.
"Having worked at the museum for a long time up to that point, it was pretty frightening to hear that there had been a fire in the building."
The fire, which started in the museum's chimney and spread to the kitchen of the cafe, was eventually tamed by firefighters who fought the fire for two hours. Their work fighting the kitchen fire ultimately saved the invaluable collections and archives in the rest of the museum.
"That was a situation where quite literally the history of the territory was at stake," said Heyck.
With the museum's cafe re-opening after being closed for one-and-a-half years, the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre and the Department of Education, Culture and Employment decided to invite the firefighters for a luncheon Monday to thank them for saving the building.
"This is about thanking the firefighters," said Cameron in a speech. "I am very proud to be living in this city and to have such a great fire department."
Deputy fire chief Craig MacLean was in command of the joint operation that fought the fire that day. "It wasn't a tough fire to fight," he said. "The problem was that it was confined, and it took a long time afterward to make sure it hadn't gotten in any void spaces and travelled into the building any further."
MacLean said while the fire might not have been the most dangerous he has ever seen, it was nonetheless one they took seriously, especially considering the priceless value of the museum's collection.
"At the start of any job we make sure to put out 110 per cent," he said, adding, "to be able to save the museum in the context of all the artifacts, it's huge for us."
Around a dozen of the 28 firefighters who fought the fire showed up for the luncheon. MacLean said the firefighters hadn't expected to be celebrated for their efforts in fighting the fire.
"We're not looking for gratitude, we're just looking to do our job," MacLean said.
However, he said the occasional show of appreciation means a lot to the department.
"You can't say enough about little things like that," he said.
The mayor said he remembers his time working for the museum fondly, and coming back as an elected representative that presides over the city's firefighting services is an extra honour.
"It's nice to come back to the museum, where I spent many years working before I got elected.
"To see all the great work that's been done in the cafe here and to be able to honour our firefighters for the work they did on that day," said Heyck.
Heyck is excited about the cafe re-opening. He said it would help attract more visitors to the museum and provide a new restaurant for visitors and residents alike to enjoy.
"The cafe was always a point of interest," said Heyck. "It's great to see it open. It's another point of interest in the city, particularly as we get into the summer season."
According to Cameron, the museum's cafe will be open to the public on June 24.
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