By Dylana Milobar

Permanent appreciation monument unveiled for 2017 wildfire volunteers

Apr 12, 2019 | 4:48 PM

KAMLOOPS — A permanent symbol of “thank you” to the 2017 wildfire volunteers was unveiled today outside of the Sandman Centre.

The “Lend a Hand” monument, created by artists Lee-Anne Chisholm and Aaron Harder, is dedicated to the many people who gave their time and effort to help the over 11,000 people displaced by wildfires.

The piece of public art was a collaboration between the City of Kamloops and the Thompson Nicola Regional District to put a permanent fixture in place to commemorate volunteers.

“It’s a great pleasure to be able on this occasion, to honour them in this way,” says TNRD Board Chair Ken Gillis, “in a way that will still be here years and years from now. That was the important part for me, was to have something that would last, that would endure.”

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During the 2017 fire season, more than 100,000 hours were put in by volunteers with emergency support services, and many other disaster response organizations.

Kamloops Mayor Ken Christian says the city is glad that the sculpture is now in place for generations to come. 

“It means a lot that this was the epicentre of our reaction in 2017, and I think it adds to the public art collection in the City of Kamloops, so we’re very proud to host it.”