On September 10, 1944, a group of men, most of them members of Montréal’s Civil Defense, formed an organization whose mission was to bring assistance and comfort to firefighters and Montréal residents during disasters.
The Pompiers auxiliaires de Montréal (Montréal auxiliary firefighters – PAM for short) are still active 75 years later. Today, the PAM is composed of 26 volunteer members (four women and 22 men) who are on the ground during fires and major emergencies to support firefighters and provide assistance to the population. Whether they are handing out blankets, hot drinks, refreshments and dry clothes to victims or giving first aid to firefighters who are wounded or affected by smoke inhalation, these auxiliary firefighters are indispensable at the scene of any disaster.
In honour of their contributions, the PAM will host the 67th annual International Fire Buff Associates (IFBA) Conference, which will be held June 26-29, 2019. This conference will bring together some 200 auxiliary firefighters from across Canada and the United States, who will enjoy a full program of activities and meetings, including tours of the Musée des pompiers, fire stations and the SIM training centre.
As well, a fire truck parade that includes both modern and historic fire trucks will be held on June 29, 2019 along Avenue du Mont-Royal beginning at 10 a.m. The parade is a community event and all Montrealers are warmly invited to attend. The parade will end at the Parc Lafontaine with activities for all ages, including a fire truck exhibition, an inflatable educational fire station, a fire simulator and much more. The day will end with a closing banquet with special guest Rosannie Filato, the Montréal executive committee member in charge of public safety.
We hope to see a great turnout!
