Department news Headlines News Volunteers
JVCKENWOOD Canada awards Victoria Volunteer Fire Department $10,000

June 21, 2023, Victoria by the Sea, P.E.I. – JVCKENWOOD Canada has announced the Victoria Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) in Victoria by the Sea, P.E.I. as a recent recipient of the KENWOOD Cares grant. The grant provides a non-profit volunteer organization with $10,000 in KENWOOD communications equipment twice a year.

Victoria by the Sea is a fishing village on the southern shore of Prince Edward Island. The area experienced significant impacts from Hurricane Fiona, and as the region’s first responders, the Victoria Volunteer Fire Department undertook heroic efforts.

VFD not only provides fire response to the region, but also carries the role of medical first responders, disaster response, and search and rescue. Since communication is a key component to emergency response, newly upgraded communications equipment will have a significant impact on VFD’s ability to respond and communicate during future response efforts.

“Small rural volunteer fire departments are often underfunded in Prince Edward Island and across Canada. Volunteer fire departments are engaged in fundraising activities to augment limited budgets,” said Fire Chief Dale MacDonald in a press release. “The Victoria Volunteer Fire Department in Victoria by the Sea is thrilled to have been selected by the KENWOOD Cares organization to receive a grant for $10,000 in radio equipment for our department. The recent events during and after Hurricane Fiona exposed some gaps in our communication equipment and capabilities, and this grant will help our department address this issue more rapidly and effectively than would otherwise be possible.”

VFD was selected as the winner after the JVCKENWOOD team reviewed applications from across Canada.

The KENWOOD radio equipment will be configured by Island Mobile Communications, an authorized KENWOOD dealer serving Prince Edward Island.

“This grant will also allow VFD to stretch limited resources to focus on other necessary equipment. This support from KENWOOD Cares addresses a critical need for our department and will help our department fulfill our mission to protect lives and property in our community,” MacDonald said. “Our volunteers and leadership group at Victoria by the Sea Volunteer Fire Department wish to thank KENWOOD Cares and JVCKENWOOD Canada for the important work that they are doing by supporting fire departments in Canada.”

Applications are now open for the KENWOOD Cares grant program. JVCKENWOOD Canada will again be awarding a Canadian volunteer emergency organization with a $10,000 communication system support grant in equipment. The submission deadline is June 30.