Scotiabank donates $3,000 to HAVFD

Cornwall’s Scotiabank presented members of the Hogansburg-Akwesasne Volunteer Fire Department’s Kawehnoke (Cornwall Island) station with a check for $3,000 Monday.

The funds are a result of the bank’s “Team Scotia” program, which pledges to match up to $1,000 when any of their employees’ raise that much for a non-profit group or event. On Canadian Thanksgiving back in October, three Scotiabank employees helped the HAVFD at their annual boot drive fundraiser on Kawehno:ke, helping the HAVFD to raise a total of $4858. The three employees who volunteered were Valerie Francis-Terrance, Cindy Picard and Diane Dupuis.

“Scotiabank’s been doing this for the past three years,” said Station Captain Ben Benedict. “It’s fantastic. We were able to purchase two airboats not only to serve Akwesasne but the surrounding areas as well.”

Benedict said with this year’s fundraising money the station is looking at purchasing upgrades for all of their marine equipment. They’re also hoping to buy a brush truck to be used in grass and brush fires.