Coaldale and District Volunteer Firefighter Association receives grant for live-saving equipment

Sunny South News Photo by Kristine Jean. GRANT: The Coaldale and District Volunteer Firefighter Association recently received a $31,000 grant from Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation of Canada. The grant went towards purchasing a Zoll AutoPulse NXT Chest Compression System. The life-saving equipment will help firefighters with cardiac arrest calls across the region.

By Kristine Jean
Sunny South News

A substantial grant from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation is helping Coaldale firefighters save lives across the region. 

The Coaldale and District Volunteer Firefighter Association was recognized by the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation of Canada, in a special presentation Tuesday evening, July 7, at the Firehouse Subs south location in Lethbridge.   

Volunteer firefighters and members of the Coaldale and District Emergency Services were joined for the presentation by Coaldale Mayor Jack Van Rijn, Firehouse Subs employees and franchise owner Corey Persson.    

“Giving back is a big part of who Firehouse (Subs) is,” said Persson. “I think it’s great that a local, volunteer fire department has received this grant – it’s a huge impact to the community and we’re proud to support it.”   

The Coaldale and District Volunteer Firefighter Association is organized by volunteer firefighters with the Coaldale Fire Department and is a non-profit organization. 

They are the first-ever recipient in southern Alberta, awarded a Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation grant – which totalled $31,000 and was used to purchase a Zoll AutoPulse NXT Chest Compression System. The life-saving equipment will help strengthen emergency response and support first responders serving the Coaldale community.

 “This is a huge honour for us to be the first fire department or emergency services agency in Southern Alberta to receive a grant of this nature,” said Capt. Matt Burton with the Coaldale and District Emergency Services, pointing out how the device will assist members with cardiac arrest calls. “This works in conjunction with an AED – it doesn’t replace the CPR that’s done by a person,” he said. “It provides an auto pulse – this will do the compressions for the firefighters or EMTs that are on scene, which will allow us to focus on other aspects that are needed (like) breathing, hooking up IV’s, and making sure that we’re giving the casualty that we’re dealing with the best chance of survival.” 

Coaldale Mayor Jack Van Rijn said the Town is grateful to the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation and the Coaldale and District Volunteer Firefighters Association for their continued support of emergency services in the community. 

“This grant reflects the importance of partnerships in strengthening public safety and improving outcomes for residents across Coaldale and district,” said Van Rijn. “This $31,000 grant is a tremendous investment in public safety for our department’s response area. By supporting the purchase of a ZOLL AutoPulse NXT, the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation is helping ensure our Coaldale and District Emergency Services crews have access to life-saving equipment when every second matters.”

The grant is part of the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation’s mission to provide funding life-saving equipment and support to first responders and public safety organizations across Canada. Since 2015, the Canadian Foundation has awarded more than $6.3 million to public safety organizations across the country. 

In addition, In 2025, the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation distributed $353,000 to first responders in Alberta – money that was raised for the Foundation through various initiatives and fundraisers with Firehouse Subs.  

“Our brand was founded by firefighters so it’s a really important cause and we fundraise all-year long to support our local (first responder) departments, giving grants and supporting communities,” explained Persson. 

Burton said they greatly appreciate the grant and noted the impact it will have in helping save lives in Coaldale and across the region.  

“We are eternally grateful to the Firehouse Subs Foundation and everybody who’s donated to this worthy cause,” said Burton. “Because without grants like this it’s harder for volunteer departments to buy specific equipment that will benefit so many people in our community.”