One Family’s Commitment to Service

For the Gifford family, service has never been confined to the walls of a fire hall.

For more than three decades, Ed Gifford served his community as a firefighter, answering calls, mentoring new members, and helping shape the future of the local fire service. Today, while retired from active firefighting and serving as a County Councillor, the commitment that guided his career remains unchanged. Alongside his wife Renee, and daughter Brooklyn, Ed continues to invest in the community through volunteerism, leadership, and the Sangudo Fire Community Foundation.

Whether responding to emergencies, supporting neighbours through difficult times, preserving local history, or creating opportunities for future generations, the Giffords share a common belief that strong communities are built by people willing to serve.

That belief has become a family legacy.

Their fire service story began with Ed. During his 32-year career, he witnessed tremendous changes in firefighting, from advances in training and technology to evolving safety standards and emergency response practices. Along the way, the fire service brought him and Renee together. Through regional training, drills, and a shared dedication to helping others, a friendship easily grew into something more.

Renee has 15 years of service behind her, while daughter Brooklyn is approaching her second year as a firefighter after first participating in the cadet program. Their youngest daughter, Meadow, also spent three years in the Fire Service Cadet Program, where her passion for helping others began to take shape.

While her path ultimately led in a different direction, the values of service remained. After completing her Health Care Aide program with honours, Meadow began caring for seniors and community members at Extendicare in Mayerthorpe, where she continues to serve others with pride, compassion, and respect while pursuing future goals in nursing.

Together, the family represents more than four decades of combined service and a deep commitment to protecting and supporting the community they call home.

Choosing the Fire Service

While firefighting became a defining part of family life, it was never something expected of Brooklyn.

“Not at all,” she says. “But I saw their passion for it and wanted something more—to give back to the community.”

For Renee, joining the fire service came at a different stage of life.

“At the time, I had three young kids at home, and needed something that was mine,” she says. “I started 100 per cent for myself. I wanted to better myself, and along the way I got to help people.”

What began as individual decisions eventually became a shared family experience, one that strengthened both family bonds and community connections.

More Than a Team, a Family

One of the strongest threads connecting all three family members is the sense of belonging that comes with the fire service.

“It was always a family,” says Renee. “Whether you’re old or young, everybody cheers each other on.”

Those values were passed naturally from one generation to the next. Brooklyn grew up around the fire service and the lessons that came with it: teamwork, accountability, humility, and service.

Renee says one of the greatest gifts of the fire service is the honesty and support that exists within the firefighting community.

“Nothing was ever sugar-coated,” she says.

Today, Brooklyn says becoming a firefighter herself has given her a deeper appreciation for the commitment she witnessed growing up.

“There were things I didn’t fully understand before,” she says. “Now I see their dedication through a different lens.”

A Profession That Continues to Evolve

Ed has witnessed the greatest transformation over the course of his three decades in the fire service.

“Everything has changed,” he says. “The tactics, the technology, building construction. When I started, it was much more of a social club. Today it’s far more structured and professional.”

Renee agrees, noting significant advances in firefighter health and safety.

“We understand so much more now about things like asbestos, lead paint, contamination, and decontamination procedures.”

While equipment and practices continue to evolve, one lesson remains constant.

“The learning never ends,” says Ed.

The Realities of Service

For all the rewards that come with serving others, the profession also carries challenges that are not always visible.

Like many first responders, Renee experienced the toll emergency work can take on mental health—when stress becomes a heavy burden that needs to be cared for. Understanding this became a significant turning point in her life and career.

“Holy, did I learn a lot!” she says. “It gave me a whole new perspective.”

What stands out most when she reflects on that experience is the support she received from fellow firefighters and access to professional resources when she needed them most.

“My crew stepped up when I needed to step back,” she says. “The help is there.”

For the family, the experience reinforced the importance of mental health awareness and the strength that comes from asking for support.

“We’re ultimately stronger for it,” says Ed.

Their experience reinforced an important message for first responders and community members alike: seeking help is not a sign of weakness, but an essential part of maintaining health, resilience, and the ability to continue supporting others.

For Brooklyn, witnessing that journey provided a deeper understanding of the profession she had chosen for herself and the sacrifices that often accompany a life of service.

The experience served as a reminder that caring for others also means being willing to care for yourself and accept help when needed.

Service Beyond the Fire Hall

For the Giffords, service never ended when the trucks returned to the station.

Over the years, their home became a gathering place for firefighters, friends, neighbours, and anyone who needed a seat at the table. Holidays, celebrations, and community events often brought people together under their roof.

“Our door is always open,” says Renee. “Christmas, major holidays, whenever, we’re ready to feed and support a crew.”

That spirit of connection eventually inspired something bigger.

When regionalization brought local departments together under a County-wide fire service model, the family recognized both the opportunities and the risks. While the new structure strengthened emergency services, they also wanted to ensure Sangudo’s rich firefighting history, identity, and traditions would not be lost.

In 2017, that vision led to the incorporation of the Sangudo Fire Community Foundation.

What began as an effort to preserve the legacy of a department founded in 1937 soon evolved into a broader mission: bringing people together, supporting local initiatives, and strengthening community connections.

Today, the volunteer-run organization includes current firefighters and their families, retired members, military personnel, and community supporters, who share a commitment to giving back. Meadow also remains actively involved with the Sangudo Fire Community Foundation, volunteering her time and supporting the organization’s efforts.

“Firefighters like to eat and gather around a table,” says Renee. “Whether it’s after a call or at a community event.”

The Foundation now operates a for-hire catering service supporting everything from weddings serving hundreds of guests to local festivals, community celebrations, and fundraising events.

Funds raised through these efforts are reinvested directly into community initiatives, including school fire prevention programs, youth activities, community events, and educational opportunities.

The foundation has also built a mobile kitchen, restored an original fire engine, and created countless opportunities for people throughout the region to connect with one another.

A Community That Gives Back

Throughout the foundation's growth, one lesson has remained clear—when people understand a cause, they want to help.

“The little things matter,” says Ed. “People volunteer their time, skills, equipment, and resources.”

Businesses, organizations, and community members have continually stepped forward to support projects and initiatives.

“People want to give back when they know what it is for,” he says.

That support continues to fuel further plans, including expanded programming for schools and opportunities to engage seniors across the region.

The Foundation's success, the family says, is a reflection of the community itself—generous, resilient, and willing to support one another.

A Legacy of Service

When asked what advice they would offer someone considering the fire service, all three draw on their own experiences.

“Keep your head up and be strong,” says Brooklyn.

“Keep learning,” adds Ed. “The changes never stop, and neither should the learning.”

“And stay humble,” says Renee. “Because a lot of ego can come into play.”

As for the legacy they hope to leave behind, the answer goes far beyond firefighting.

“Comradery and family,” says Renee. “It’s all intertwined.”

Brooklyn hopes future generations recognize the importance of community involvement and giving back. Ed hopes people remember the spirit of service that has defined both his firefighting career and his work as an elected official.

“It’s a life of service, sacrifice, and dedication,” he says. “It’s an honour and a privilege.”

For the Giffords, firefighting was never just about responding to emergencies, and the Foundation was never simply about preserving history. Both are expressions of the same commitment: showing up for the community, supporting neighbours, and leaving things better than they found them.

Through their careers, volunteer efforts, and foundation work, Ed, Renee, Brooklyn, and Meadow continue to demonstrate that service is not just something you do. It’s a way of life.