Firefighters from Orillia, Rama, Ramara, Oro-Medonte, Tay and Severn are skating in the second annual Ishkode Cup at the Mnjikaning Arena Sports Ki at Rama First Nation this weekend.
The tournament, co-organized by Rama Fire and Rescue Services acting Capt. Doug Rideout, aims to raise more than $5,000 for #IveGotYourBack911.
“The most important part of our job is taking care of your mind,” Rideout said. “You have to be able to stay focused to do your job.”
Rideout, who serves as peer support for other firefighters in the area, says he’s “pretty passionate” about mental health.
“An event like this is really great for that. It helps build relationships, and we are all here for good fun and a great cause,” he said.
While the main goal is to have fun, Rideout says the tournament “gets competitive.”
“Everybody is coming out guns a-blazing,” he said. “Orillia bragged all year about winning last year. We don’t want that to happen again.”
He says any of the six teams could win the tournament this weekend.
“It will be fun to see where the cup will go this year,” he said. “Whoever gets it, we’ll hear about it.”
One of the approximately 100 firefighters playing this weekend is Savannah Maerz, acting captain with Rama Fire and Rescue Services.
“I think it’s really good that we are getting together,” she said. “Usually, we only get to see each other at the odd calls.”
He says the tournament has a festive atmosphere.
“Everyone wants to win,” she said. “It’s also for a good cause and to help build relationships with our partners.”
Maerz believes #IveGotYourBack911 to be a worthy cause for the charity tournament.
“I think we’d all be lying if we said we didn’t know somebody affected by PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder),” she said. “It really hits home for all of us.”
The tournament is also collecting food donations for The Sharing Place Food Centre and the Rama Food Distribution Program this weekend.
“It’s important to give back to the community we work in,” Maerz said. “We want to make sure that nobody in the community goes without food.”
Orillia Fire Capt. Brendan Davidson enjoyed having a year of bragging rights over the other fire departments.
“It’s kind of nice when you have the trophy sitting in the hall,” he said. “This year, we know we have our work cut out for us.”
While everybody wants to win, Davidson says the tournament is about mutual respect and having fun.
“As firefighters, we go through a lot,” he said. “This is about having the ability to blow off some steam, talk to other guys from other departments, and building relationships. It’s really important.”
Davidson says firefighters often see people on their worst days, which is why #IveGotYourBack911 is a crucial resource for first responders.
“We see what people go through on a first-hand basis. Having resources available to help is very important for us,” he said.
Being a firefighter is about giving back to the community, he says, which is why the tournament is also collecting food donations.
“That’s why we choose this job,” he said. “Our goal as firefighters is to help everybody as best as we can, and that’s why we hold food drives and things like that.”
The Ishkode Cup continues Sunday at 9:30 a.m. The playoff rounds begin at 2 p.m. and the championship game caps the tournament at 5 p.m.
