Shelburne students create tribute to honour N.S. firefighters

As 13-year-old Broghen Nickerson brushes red paint onto a wooden heart he made during class at a school in southwestern Nova Scotia, he is thinking of his dad.

He was one of the volunteer firefighters who battled the largest wildfire in the province's history last year.

Nickerson recalls his father returning home covered in ash every day for weeks as the wildfire blazed through Shelburne County, destroying homes and other structures in the small coastal communities.

"It was scary, but it was nice knowing my dad was out there saving people's houses from burning down," said Nickerson, a Grade 8 student at Shelburne Regional High School.

Like thousands of others, Nickerson was evacuated from his home when the wildfires swept through the area last May and June.

WATCH |These wooden hearts will honour volunteers and firefighters

Students to honour N.S. firefighters, volunteers with art display

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High school students in Shelburne, N.S., are creating a tribute to honour firefighters and volunteers who responded to wildfires last year. They're cutting and painting wooden hearts that will be installed in a local park. The CBC's Gareth Hampshire reports.

So it means a lot to him that he is part of a class creating a tribute honouring the firefighters who responded.

The students are making 64 hearts to recognize all of the fire departments who fought the fire, as well as one big heart to thank all other volunteers.

They're working under the guidance of tech ed teacher Les Goulden.

"They've produced some very high-quality work for this tribute, so we're very proud of them," Goulden said.

The project began with a piece of weather-proofed plywood that the students cut into heart shapes before machine sanding them for a smooth finish.

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They were all required to do safety tests on the equipment before using it including the drill press, band saw, machine sanders and a track saw.

"As junior high kids move into senior high, it might interest them in taking our skilled trades program as well," Goulden said.

Casey Chetwynd, 15, is already thinking about a career in welding and has been grateful for the class to show her appreciation and hone her skills at the same time.

"I think it's a skill a lot of people should have. It's very useful," she said.

The project is the vision of local resident Pam Mingo, who wanted to do something special to acknowledge the dedication of the firefighters and volunteers who did so much for the community.

"I thought working with students would be a wonderful idea and the idea of hearts came to my mind because that shows the love," said Mingo.

The municipality and town of Shelburne are supporting the project, as well as the school and a number of local businesses, she said.

The tribute will be placed in a park on Water Street and unveiled June 1at noon.

Firefighters are being invited,along with other dignitaries and people from the community.

"It's very humbling to see the amount of effort that folks are putting forward to recognize the fire service," said Shelburne volunteer fire Chief Darrell Locke. "The students and their support staff have really gone above and beyond."

The students are also pleased to bepart of a tribute that will have a prominent place in the community.

"I think it's good that everybody in the future can see it and it represents a part of our town's history," said 16-year-old Jeremy Quinlan.

Broghen Nickerson is hoping the firefighters are impressed when they get to see it and especially his dad.

"I love you dad and I'm doing this for you."

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CBC News sits down with two people who lost their homes in the 2023 wildfires that burned through parts of Shelburne County and Hammonds Plains to learn more about how they've coped over the last year.