Don’t panic if an RCMP helicopter lands in Fireman’s Park this weekend, it’s just a part of the region’s coolest toys gathering for the Oak Bay Police and Oak Bay Fire Department public open house and equipment and technology expo.
“We’re going to be giving tours of both buildings,” said Const. Rick Anthony, community liaison officer. “In the parking lot we’re going to have specialized equipment and units from all over the area.”
The expo will feature assets from partner agencies such as Saanich Police’ Canine Section, Ident Section, Dive Section, Traffic motorcycles, and the fairly new Saanich Police Incident Command Vehicle. The RCMP Marine Unit, the RCMP helicopter from Comox, and the Oak Bay Sea Rescue Unit will also be on display, as well as the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team with some of their equipment and the Crowd Management Unit of Victoria Police.
“We really want people to come out and meet us and the fire guys and see some of the specialized equipment we have access to,” Anthony said. “It’s really introducing people to stuff they don’t usually see up close and personal.”
The family and kid-friendly event will offer interactive demonstrations for the kids as well as free hot dogs and drinks, compliments of the Oak Bay firefighters and a scavenger hunt where kids will be able to go station to station learning while earning a chance to win a bike and other prizes.
Other organizations confirmed include Greater Victoria Victim Services, Oak Bay Volunteers services Society, Child Find BC, and ICBC with a distracted walking course.
“It’s going to be a total family and kid friendly event,” Anthony said. “It allows people to be up close and personal with police and firefighters. It’s not often you get to do that and have a hands-on experience.”
The open house and expo is at Fireman’s Park on Saturday, Oct. 18 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.