Battle of the Badges to take place April 26

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

The annual Battle of the Badges will take place on April 26 at 3 p.m. in the Tillsonburg Memorial Arena.

The game will see the Tillsonburg firefighters lacing up their skates to face off against the OPP. The associations involved with both groups are behind the game.

“It’s very competitive to say the least,” said Sarah Barclay, a member of the Tillsonburg Firefighters’ Association. “The players get right involved, right into it. It might as well be an NHL hockey game to them.”

Members of the two groups work side by side at emergencies, and will continue to, but for an hour or so during the hockey game, it’s a different story. The OPP won the first year of this event, and fire won last year, so the stakes will be high this year.

The third annual game, proceeds from the event go to a local or regional charity. The first year, funds went to Ronald McDonald House. Last year it was Make A Wish Foundation, and this year it will be Parkwood Hospital in London.

“As first responders, we see these traumatic incidents,” Barclay said. “The victims get transferred to Victoria Hospital in London, and are often transferred to Parkwood Hospital for recovery.”

She further explained outside of victims of tragedies, colleagues and other community members also go to Parkwood for rehabilitation.

“We all know someone who is impacted by care they receive at Parkwood,” Barclay said.

The event will start with a one-hour family skate. Representatives of both ‘badges’ will be on site handing out safety material. One change this year is the concession stand will be open for the event.

Admission is $5, with children under two free. Tickets can be obtained at the door or by e-mailing randi.crawford@opp.ca or sbarclay@tillsonburg.ca in advance.