CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - There’s not much that will keep Vance Bridges from volunteering, or receiving an award for his lengthy service with the Canadian Red Cross.
The Summerside resident was honored for 40 years of volunteering by Lt.-Gov Antoinette Perry during a ceremony Saturday at the P.E.I. Red Cross’ Charlottetown headquarters.
“I’m here and I will join you momentarily,” Bridges said as his name was announced.
He stood to walk towards the stage.
“All I have to do is make sure I’m mobilized and when I start to move I prefer to stay on my feet.”
Perry remembered Bridges from long while back.
“You have been a part of the Prince County scene for a long time, because when I was taking swimming lessons I’m pretty sure you came down to visit the camp workers.”
Bridges seemed taken aback by how long it has been.
“Oh, heaven sakes,” he responded.
After handing over the award, Perry and Bridges looked over the 40-year service pin.
“You’ve never seen that one before,” Perry said.
“Well I won’t see another one like it, that is for sure,” Bridges joked.
He was proud of his service with the Canadian Red Cross.
“This is a great honor,” Bridges said proudly, his voice shaking slightly as he continued. “I am very elated with all of this. It’s just absolutely wonderful.”
“This is a great honor ... I am very elated with all of this. It’s just absolutely wonderful.”
-Vance Bridges
The ceremony also honored 23 other volunteers who represent a combined 200 years of service with the Canadian Red Cross. Many recipients couldn’t make the ceremony due to other commitments, but they were honored with awards for three, five, 10 and 20-year milestones as well certificates of merit.
Eva Rodgerson who lives in O’Leary will be presented with her award for 50 years of service at a later date.
The P.E.I. division of the Canadian Red Cross has sent members all across the country to help manage forest fires, floods and other disasters over the years.
However, Chris Vessey, P.E.I’s emergency management team leader, told a story much closer to home.
Last fall, Vessey was at a training exercise at the airport when he received a call about a house fire. The volunteer on the line told him the fire was east of Charlottetown.
Vessey couldn’t make it, but told the volunteer, “If you can’t get anyone else, call me back.”
Vessy didn’t think much of it after that, he finished the training exercise, returned to work and went home.
At 8 p.m., his phone rang again.
“’This is Eastlink alarm control. We just wanted to let you know the power is still out at your uncle’s house’,” said the caller.
It turned out, the fire earlier in the day had been his uncle’s home.
When he arrived there, the fire-gutted house was dark. He was informed there was a fire, he couldn’t enter the house and his uncle was taken to hospital in Halifax by ambulance.
When Vessey couldn’t make the call earlier in the day, another volunteer responded.
“My aunt and uncle said they have never been treated with so much respect,” said Vessey of the Red Cross volunteer’s treatment of his relatives.
His uncle left the hospital and has been staying with his wife at an apartment, then a hotel.
Their journey ended this week when they were able to move back home, said Vessey.
“That journey started with this organization and the help we were able to provide them,” he said. “I truly mean it when I say it is an honor to be a member of this organization.”
