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Calendar on sale to support burn victims

Local photographers contribute talents to Rocky Mountain Print Solutions/Cranbrook Fire Department project.
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Stephen Wik (left) of Rocky Mountain Print Solutions

Stunning local photos are  now available in a fundraising calendar in Cranbrook.

The Cranbrook Firefighters' Kootenay Vistas Burn Fund Calendar is now on stands, and all proceeds from the sale of the calendar go to help children who have suffered burns.

"Not only will the calendar promote safety, it will also give purchasers and opportunity to win some great prizes from our local business community," said Murray Robertson, a Cranbrook firefighter who is the local representative for the B.C. Professional Firefighters Burn Fund.

The Burn Fund is a registered charity established in 1978 to provide life saving, life supporting and life enriching services to people in B.C. by supporting burn survivors and increasing the public's knowledge about fire and burn safety.

Robertson approached Cranbrook Daily Townsman publisher Karen Johnston about putting the calendar together, and she jumped at the chance.

"I looked at it as a way to give back to our community," said Johnston. A local resident, a member of our community, recognized the need in our province and has first hand knowledge of this."

The pair then approached Stephen Wik at Rocky Mountain Print Solutions, who came on board to print the calendar.

"We do a lot of calendars and really like to do those projects. We especially love the photo element. It was a pleasure to print," said Wik.

The 16-month calendar runs from September 2012 to December 2013, so people can buy the calendar and start now, or wait until their current calendar runs out at the end of the year.

It features key local dates, such as School District #5 schedules and Kootenay Ice games, as well as fire and emergency safety tips.

"We wanted to hopefully make Cranbrook a safer place. Even if one person reads something they didn't know, it's worth it," said Robertson.

When planning the calendar, the group asked local photographers to send in their best scenic snapshots for consideration in the calendar.

"We put a call out to amateur photographers, looking for things around our region, particularly landscapes. We received a good number of photos. I was pleased with the number," said Johnston.

Cranbrook Fire and Emergency Services narrowed the selection down to 16 photos – not an easy job, Robertson pointed out – and 12 photographers have now had their work published in the calendar.

Those photographs will also form part of the current exhibition at Artrageous Gallery, the Cranbrook and District Arts Council's home opposite Rotary Park, from September 6 to October 10. An artists' reception will be held on Thursday, September 13 at 7 p.m.

Purchasers of the calendar will be able to enter into a draw for monthly prizes at the City of Cranbrook website at www.cranbrook.ca.  Go to the website and enter the unique number of the rear of your calendar, your name, address and email, and you could win.

The Burn Fund calendar costs $10 and it is can be purchased at the Cranbrook Daily Townsman, Rocky Mountain Print Solutions, the Cranbrook Fire Hall on 2nd Street South, Cranbrook City Hall, and the Leisure Services desk at Western Financial Place.