Highly skilled Team Rubicon volunteers visit P.E.I. to clean up Fiona aftermath

October 11, 2022

3 3 minutes read

STRATFORD, P.E.I. — Within the aftermath of post-tropical storm Fiona, clearing away particles isn’t solely a variety of work, however it may be harmful as effectively. Thankfully, there’s a workforce of highly-trained volunteers who’ve come to P.E.I. to assist.

“That’s nice,” mentioned home-owner Jim Packman.

“Yeah, large aid,” mentioned his daughter, Amy Brewster.

They have been standing in Packman’s yard on Kinlock Street in Stratford, watching members of Group Rubicon reduce down a cluster of timber that have been leaning towards the facility traces, fallout from post-tropical storm Fiona.

“It’s not each day a bunch of little tree angels come out of the blue (to assist),” mentioned Brewster.

Jim Packman, centre watches as a Team Rubicon strike team takes down a tricky tree he was avoiding due to its proximity to power lines. His daughter Amy Brewster, left, and Team Rubicon member Justin Lord stand with him. - Alison Jenkins — Jim Packman, centre watches as a Group Rubicon strike workforce takes down a difficult tree he was avoiding because of its proximity to energy traces. His daughter Amy Brewster, left, and Group Rubicon member Justin Lord stand with him. – Alison Jenkins

Group Rubicon

Strike groups are predominantly chainsaw operators. On Oct. 5 in P.E.I., they included Brian Kenny, a retired police officer from Toronto; Marc Beaulac, retired from the air pressure from Kingston, N.S.; Brett Simms, a graphic designer from Vancouver, B.C.; and a brand new man – Justin Lord from P.E.I.

They have been a few of round 15 volunteers on P.E.I. who had signed as much as sleep on cots within the armouries and haul particles for 14 days when SaltWire spoke to them.

“It’s a volunteer group, it’s veteran-led, that’s how I ended up in it,” mentioned Lord. “It’s form of just like the service after service.”

Lord toured in Afghanistan in 2004 with the Van Doos, the Royal twenty second Regiment, and left the navy in 2008. He now works a desk job in Charlottetown.

“I do know a variety of guys that I’ve served with — when you’re out, you continue to really feel like you have to be doing one thing. Particularly when this sort of stuff occurs.”

Team Rubicon members Marc Beaulac, left, Brian Kenny and Brett Simms strategize how to safely take down a tree in Stratford on Oct. 5. - Alison Jenkins — Group Rubicon members Marc Beaulac, left, Brian Kenny and Brett Simms strategize learn how to safely take down a tree in Stratford on Oct. 5. – Alison Jenkins

Although Lord’s chainsaw coaching was delayed by COVID, he didn’t wish to be ignored of the aid effort in his residence province, so he’s been “swamping,” hauling branches and particles to the curb and studying so much alongside the best way.

“It’s fairly uncomplicated, feeling that you just’re going to go assist somebody that wanted assist. There’s nothing sophisticated about that,” mentioned Lord, including later, “It makes a giant distinction once you’re hit with one thing to have the ability to hit again a bit bit.”

Quick information

Group Rubicon is a veteran-led, volunteer group that survives on donations. Listed below are some extra fast information concerning the group:
Group Rubicon was based in 2012 after an earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, by Marines, Jake Wooden and William McNulty.
Group Rubicon Canada was first deployed to assist after wildfires in Fort MacMurray in 2016 and now has a roster of greater than 150,000 volunteer members together with veterans, first responders and passionate civilians.
Group Rubicon has launched near 100 missions in response to disasters and humanitarian crises throughout the globe.
Enroll online to volunteer.

Homeowner Jim Packman, left, and his daughter Amy Brewster, were grateful for the help taking down a tree near the power lines in Packman’s yard on Kinlock Road. - Alison Jenkins — House owner Jim Packman, left, and his daughter Amy Brewster, have been grateful for the assistance taking down a tree close to the facility traces in Packman’s yard on Kinlock Street. – Alison Jenkins

Serving to others

The others on the workforce suppose so, too.

Simms signed up with Group Rubicon in 2018 and “jumped in with each ft.”

“I simply love the work we do, I like the best way we do it, I like the best way the workforce operates – the best way they maintain their workforce in addition to the job,” mentioned Simms. “I’d do that each day if I might.”

Team Rubicon members Brian Kenny, left, Brett Simms, Justin Lord and Marc Beaulac stand for a photo at a home on Kinlock Road in Stratford Oct. 5. - Alison Jenkins — Group Rubicon members Brian Kenny, left, Brett Simms, Justin Lord and Marc Beaulac stand for a photograph at a house on Kinlock Street in Stratford Oct. 5. – Alison Jenkins

Kenny spent 35 years with the Toronto police and 10 years within the Armed Forces Reserves. He additionally served 4 excursions abroad and known as himself an adrenaline junkie. When he first signed up for Group Rubicon, he was in search of extra thrills, however over time, that’s modified.

“You may’t go from 100 mph all the way down to nothing, so, this was a brand new journey. It’s one thing I believed in, it was a brotherhood as quickly as you stepped within the door. … every one in all us brings one thing new to the bread basket and all of us study from it,” mentioned Kenny.

What began as an journey has become a form of remedy. As a lot as they provide to these they assist, “we get that reinforcement again,” he mentioned. “It’s meals for the soul … it’s cathartic.”

Alison Jenkins is a reporter with the SaltWire Community in Prince Edward Island. She might be reached by e mail at [email protected] and adopted on Twitter @ReporterAlison.

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