Former fire chief to be thrown to the Lions

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by Morinville News Staff

Former Morinville Fire Chief Ron Cust has certainly felt the heat after more than a quarter century with the Morinville Fire Department, but the lifelong Morinville resident will soon feel a different kind of heat. Cust is to be roasted Sept. 20 at the Morinville Community Cultural Centre in a special event put on by the Morinville Lions Club.

“It’s the 65th anniversary of the Lions Club in Morinville and [President] Francis Fryters came up with the idea to hold a roast,” said club treasurer Selena Turner, adding the club had done a roast many years ago and felt it was time to do one again, particularly with Cust’s recent retirement as chief. “We decided it was a great way to get people out and have some fun. Anyone who is willing to put their name out there to be roasted knows what’s coming.”

Turner said proceeds from the roast evening would go to the Alberta Fire and Injury Reduction Safety Trailer, an initiative Cust recommended.

The Lions are hoping people will come out to the Sept. 20 event for a couple of reasons. The event supports a club that has served Morinville for 65 years through a lot of community-minded projects, but also acknowledges the longstanding contributions Cust has made to firefighting in particular and his community in general. “It’s a chance to come out and make fun of your old fire chief,” Turner said, adding there will be an open mic portion to the evening where attendees can have a go at the easy-going man of the hour.

The event will be emceed by Paul Smith who has lined up a roster of roasters that includes Cust’s sister Lil Boddez, long-time friend Jerry Gaetz, local musician Ed Bulger, Comedian Wyatt Zieger, fellow firefighter Herb Peirce, and Morinville News publisher Stephen Dafoe, Cust’s former business partner.

The event is one of a number of events and projects the Lions Club are involved in. The club has an ongoing collection of pop can tabs, which are sold to fund wheelchairs for those in need. They also organize the annual Purina Walk for Dog Guides, host the Annual Breakfast with Santa, and are actively involved in many of the community festivals that happen in Morinville.

“They are always willing to volunteer where needed,” Turner said of the club, adding she joined a few months ago to help the Lions in their goal to add more members. “We’re looking to branch out. There is only a core of about six left … and we were doing well with 25.”

Doors open at 6 p.m. Sept. 20 and a three-meat supper with all the fixings will be served at 7 p.m., The roast will be followed by a dance. Tickets are $30 per person and available at J.M. Turner Goldsmith, Home Hardware, Noah’s Ark Pets & Supplies and Smith Music. Those interested in obtaining tickets can also contact Selena Turner at 780-720-1963 or by email at selenaturner22@gmail.com to have tickets delivered.

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