The wildly popular and uplifting drive-by birthday program put on by the Calgary Fire Department is now over.
The City of Calgary initiative started in early April during the COVID-19 outbreak as a way for children, between the ages of four and 12, and citizens over the age of 75 to celebrate their special day while physical distancing.
“This program is for people who don’t have an opportunity to have a birthday party as they regularly would, and reassuring the community we’re still here,” said Fire Chief Steve Dongworth at the time of the program’s kick-off. “A lot of our regular community programming has had to be shut down because of COVID-19. I’m hoping the community feels reassured knowing that we are still here for them.”
The program ran through the months of April and May, completing more than 7,000 drive-by birthdays.
Calgary’s first responders visited birthday girls and boys all over the city, complete with flashing lights and sirens.
Fire crews travelled all over the city, bringing joy to self-isolating kids and seniors with birthdays.
The program was scheduled to run until May 31.
http://www.twitter.com/KDotAnderson
Copyright Postmedia Network Inc., 2020
