As the sun peaked through the morning clouds on the morning of Saturday, August 10, the parking lot at 6660 Sooke Road was lit with the faces of Sooke residents in a post-fire community celebration organized jointly by RBC, A&W, and Shoppers Drug Mart.
In an announcement, RBC branch manager Krista Moffett said the businesses from the Evergreen Mall were collectively donating $6,000 to the Sooke Fire Department.
“On behalf of all Evergreen businesses, the pledge was $6,000,” said Moffett. “We heard that they needed their own face masks. I believe that will be what the funds are going towards.”
FIre chief Steve Sorenson confirmed Moffett’s announcement. “Each firefighter will have their own personal mask now,” he said, adding that each mask costs about $400.
RBC’s regional vice president, Debora Lineham, summed up the day’s success in a follow-up email. “We served over 500 hamburgers, 200 hot dogs, over 450 ice creams and many drinks. (All cooked by Heather at A/W) The fire chief was in attendance with firefighters and the truck. The kids loved their interactive tours of the truck and also received red fire helmets. Our face painter was lined up all day.”
“The community itself has been amazing, the sense of community and staff has been really great,” Moffett went on to say. “It’s a beautiful place.”
