Crowds came out to cheer on emergency responders and honour the memory of BC Wildfire Service firefighter Devyn Gale Saturday, May 31 at the first-ever Devyn Gale Memorial Volleyball Tournament, held at Centennial Park. With 10 teams competing, food and drink for sale and a showcase of emergency vehicles, there was a little something for everyone to enjoy. 

Organized by Clara Rutherford and other members of the Columbia Initial Attack crew, which Gale was a member of, the event was centered on Gale’s love of volleyball and her community.

“Devyn was somebody who was a very bubbly and exciting person. I think that a good way to remember her is for us to have fun in her legacy,” Noah Gosselin, Columbia Initial Attack crew member and event organizer told Revelstoke Mountaineer.

Organizers kept the details of the event close to the chest leading up to Saturday, focusing more on getting it right the first time instead of bringing in large crowds. Still, Revelstoke came out to support the event.

“We’ve been blown away by the turnout, very pleased,” Simon Woods, Columbia Initial Attack crew member and event supervisor said. The celebration for Gale wasn’t just taking place in Revelstoke, with organizers learning during the event that an emergency responder team across the province was also hosting a small volleyball game after hearing about the Devyn Gale Memorial Volleyball Tournament.

Supporting The Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation

The Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation (CFFF) received donations to help the foundation support loved ones of fallen firefighters. From military to municipal, wildland to aviation, the CFFF honours fallen firefighters across all disciplines.

“If you lost your life while fighting fire in some nature in Canada, the CFFF works to ensure that you’re memorialized,” Brian Hutchinson, CFFF board member told Revelstoke Mountaineer.

CFFF offers a range of resources to families who have lost loved ones fighting fires, including mental health support, scholarships and education funds and peer support camps.

CFFF also helps organize the Canadian Firefighters Memorial Ceremony honouring fallen firefighters from the previous year at the Canadian Firefighters Memorial.

The Devyn Gale Memorial Volleyball Tournament organizers reached out to CFFF to ask about donating proceeds from the tournament and CFFF made a point to come out and help support the event.

“The fundraising is a nice add on, but the honoring and remembering is really the key here today,” Hutchinson said. “That is the focus that we’re here to support.”