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Firefighters' charity calendar makes a comeback By John Bkila OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF After a seven-year hiatus, the Oakville Professional Firefighters Association (PFFA) is resurrecting its firefighters charity calendar. The money it raises will support the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, Oakville Hospital Foundation, Ian Anderson House Foundation, and Oakville PFFA sponsorships. "It's a fun way to bring awareness to our selected charities... everyone benefits," said Helena Thompson who is co-ordinating fundraising to make the calendar happen. The effort hasn't happened in seven years because no one had stepped up to make it happen, according to Oakville PFFA public relations officer Phil Cartwright. "It's a lot of work. It's a whole year lead up... it's money, time, effort and a lot of volunteers," said Cartwright. It's not a small task to get off the ground -- with start-up costs being approximately $15,000-$20,000 -- said Cartwright. It also takes six to eight months to do layout, design, photo shoots and overall production. Thanking the nearly 30 volunteers, which include photographers and layout designers, Cartwright says the calendar wouldn't be 29 · Friday, July 6, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com MARTA IWANEK / OAKVILLE BEAVER / @halton_photog a good deed: Three month old Will, left, and Effie are future guide dogs and are pictured here sitting in front of a fire truck at Oakville Fire Station No. 4. The latest firefighters' Charity Calendar fundraising project will benefit Dog Guides Canada as well as the Oakville Hospital Foundation, Ian Anderson House Foundation and the Oakville Professional Firefighters Association. possible without the support of Dog Guides and Oakville's fire department, its firefighters and Fire Chief Lee Grant. The 12 firefighters that will grace the pages of the charity calendar were voted on and selected by those who attended a fundraising event in April. "Hats off to the brave 18 Oakville firefighters who danced around the bar (at Philthy McNasty's) -- and on it -- to help raise money and awareness (for our charities)," Thompson said in an earlier interview. The remaining six firefighters, who did not receive their own month page, will also appear in the calendar, noted Cartwright. Organizers have fundraised and brought awareness to the calendar and its partnered charities through multiple avenues, including the OPFFA's Facebook page, the association's website, Girls Night Out events and setting up a table at Oakville Place shopping centre -- come October, there will be a table set up every other weekend to sell the calendars. Sponsorship opportunities for some of the months in the 2013 calendar are still available -- those interested can e-mail Oakville_firefighters_calendar@hotmail.ca. The 2013 Oakville Firefighters Calendar will be printed and ready just in time for its official release gala event on Sept. 28. Pre-orders for calendars can be made at www.oakvillepffa.ca/calendar -- calendars bought before Nov. 1 cost $10 if picked up in Oakville and $15 if shipped; after Nov. 1, calendars will be $12 for Oakville pickups and $17 if shipped. For more information, visit www. oakvillepffa.ca/calendar or the organization's Facebook page by searching Oakville Firefighters Calendar 2013. garden Tranquil Tuesdays Tuesdays, June 5 to July 31; 6 to 8:30 p.m.; Hendrie Park Music nights Red-Hot Jazz & Cool Blues Wednesdays, June 13 to September 5; 6 to 8:30 p.m.; Hendrie Park Another stunning lineup of live music in Hendrie Park. Drinks and dinner available. Held rain or shine. Regular admission applies, FREE to RBG members. Presented by stage sPonsor classical blues jazz Ce Ce ate our blo r o b le Rose Hendrie Park ate our blo r o b le m RBG Centre, 680 Plains Road West, Hamilton/Burlington · 905-527-1158 m s s