Members of Real Property Operations Unit (West) at Canadian Forces Base Shilo spray concrete parking lot barriers at Westridge Community Centre on May 23, 2019 in Brandon, Manitoba during the city’s United Way event called Week of Caring. Photo: Jules Xavier, Shilo Stag newspaper.
By Jules Xavier, Shilo Stag newspaper
Brandon, Manitoba — Each year United Way Brandon embarks on a community project called Week of Caring, where the city identifies a community centre or like venue in need of volunteer support.
Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Shilo supports this great activity annually by providing volunteer support for one day.
According to United Way organizers, the nature of the work is general repairs, landscaping, painting and cleanup to mention a few possibilities.
This year, military members from CFB Shilo volunteered May 23 at Westridge Community Centre on Willowdale Crescent.
CFB Shilo’s team of enthusiastic military members were tasked with a number of work projects, including repairing and replacing outdoor rink boards, repairing chain link fencing, minor landscaping and clean-up and a small painting project that saw concrete parking lot barriers spray painted safety yellow.
A storage shed was also repaired, with the roof redone with new shingles.
Starting at 9 a.m., they completed their final task just before 4 p.m. All materials were supplied by the community centre.
Base Commander Lieutenant-Colonel David MacIntyre helped with the arena boards when he arrived, while Base Regimental Sergeant-Major Chief Warrant Officer James Doppler co-ordinated the work parties and served Tim Hortons coffee and Timbits provided by the United Way Brandon team. It was one of their final events as CFB Shilo’s Command Team prior to the base’s change of command ceremony on June 18.
Real Property Operations Unit (West) Detachment Shilo was also part of this year’s work party, with Second-in-Command Captain Peter Fullola and a number of his tradesmen offering their construction expertise, especially on the shed roofing and arena boards work.
Carpenter Corporal Aaron Legg mentored those working on removing and replacing the arena boards during this major work project, which came to fruition once additional wood was secured after the initial supply ran out.
Watching the work parties doing their various tasks, United Way Brandon Chief Executive Officer Cynamon Mychasiw said she’s always appreciative of the contribution to the Day of Caring program provided by military members from CFB Shilo.
“It’s wonderful the volunteer work being done by soldiers from CFB Shilo, especially having the construction engineers being part of this year’s program. They do so much in one day when they participate.”
