Black Mountain Elementary students, staff and parents expressed their gratitude Thursday morning to Joe Rich and Kelowna firefighters and first responders who battled the Philpott Road wildfire this summer.

A contingent of RCMP, ambulance, wildlife service and fire department members were led by Joe Rich fire chief Ben Wasyliuk at the school香蕉视频直播檚 heroes assembly.

香蕉视频直播淥ur students work on their social emotional learning every day, part of which means learning to show gratitude,香蕉视频直播� said Black Mountain school principal Janet Williams.

香蕉视频直播淎s a school, we wanted to honour the brave people who fought the wildfire that threatened so many homes in our area.香蕉视频直播�

Alyssa Glid, a Grade 5 student, echoed the sentiments of her classmates, saying she wanted to thank the firefighters and first responders for helping to ensure no homes were lost in the wildfire.

香蕉视频直播淚t is important to thank them because of what they do every day. They put their lives in danger to keep our lives out of danger and get the fires out,香蕉视频直播� she said.

Sarah Watson, vice-principal at Rutland Senior Secondary and a Joe Rich resident, spoke to the assembly about her family香蕉视频直播檚 experience of being evacuated.

Amidst the stress and emotions of being displaced from their home, Watson said their family took great comfort in knowing the firefighting efforts would do everything possible to save their house.

香蕉视频直播淚t was emotional and physically exhausting work I香蕉视频直播檓 sure, and a worrisome time for all of us, but we were always comforted knowing we felt safe and they were always working on our behalf,香蕉视频直播� said Watson, who香蕉视频直播檚 daughter attends Black Mountain Elementary.

香蕉视频直播淚 was so thankful, as were all Joe Rich families, to be able to walk back in the front door of our home and say those magical words, 香蕉视频直播業t香蕉视频直播檚 so good to be home.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈��

Central Okanagan school board chair Moyra Baxter recalled how the school district was a focal point of forest fires this summer, from Joe Rich to Peachland to Lake Country.

香蕉视频直播淭he great thing about that was nobody was killed or seriously hurt. That is the most important thing,香蕉视频直播� Baxter said.

School district superintendent/CEO Kevin Kaardal, who lives in the Black Mountain area, said he was impressed at how the community came together to support displaced residents and the firefighting effort.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 been two years since I moved here, but I was amazed to see how our staff, teachers, principals and others helped and comforted evacuated families and made them feel they had the support of the community,香蕉视频直播� Kaardal said.

香蕉视频直播淭hese are incredible people we recognize today who put their lives at risk for us, our homes and our livestock. The result was an outstanding result where everyone香蕉视频直播檚 homes were saved and no lives were lost.

He said the students gathering to share their gratitude is a reflection of his own belief that 香蕉视频直播渁 life lived with gratitude is a life filled with joy.香蕉视频直播�

After the assembly, Wasyliuk said the response from the school was moving for all of his first responder cohorts to hear.

香蕉视频直播淚t was certainly heartwarming to enter the assembly and to hear the applause and appreciation from the students, parents and faculty,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Following the morning assembly, Black Mountain students took part in the school香蕉视频直播檚 annual Terry Fox Run in the afternoon.

For a video of this story, go to kelownacapnews.com