If there’s a fire they wanted to start with Engine 23, it’s the burning desire to read.
The retired Calgary Fire Department truck, which was taken out of storage and repurposed in the kids’ area of the Calgary Public Library’s Fish Creek location, had its first service call with young readers on April 15.
The truck, which had 18 years of service with the Calgary Fire Department, was decommissioned in 2016 and first put in the old Central Library. Back in 2018, with the opening of the new Central Library, the fire truck had to be put back into storage.
Calgary Public Library CEO Sarah Meilleur told the story of when, nearly a year ago, at 3 a.m., it was moved ever so carefully through an entry in the library’s northwest wall to the place it’s located today.
“But the thing is that this story of engine 23 is just getting started. Because today, it’s the kids, it’s all of these friends here who are going to take over Engine 23 and they’re going to build adventures and stories of their own,” Meilleur said.
“With this launch, Calgary Public Library is working to connect a whole generation of children with access to an environment that’s built for creativity and innovation.”
Meilleur said the space would make a big impact on youngsters, perhaps inspiring more early readers as they gather for story time on the specially built steps up to the engine.
“These are the moments that I’m the most excited to witness; the small moments with big impact in a children’s introduction to early learning and literacy,” she said.
“The fun that can be had with books and stories and enjoy and early learning is one of our top priorities at the library.”
The truck is on the library’s second floor. It’s been stripped down to a minuscule 20 tons and has had an accessible apparatus built around it so kids of all ages and abilities can hop aboard.
More than just an engine
Calgary Fire Chief Steve Dongworth said it was quite a feat to reinforce the library floor to hold a 17,000-kilogram engine. Now, there’s something special here for everyone – of all ages – to enjoy.
“I think the true essence of this exciting new learning space lays not just in the engine or activities, but the values they represent,” he said.
“The teamwork, courage, persistence, compassion and community spirit this project required and embraced, which is evident here today.”
Chief Dongworth said he valued the partnership they had with the Calgary Public Library and the Calgary Public Library Foundation, which helped spearhead the fundraising campaign, Ladder Up for Literacy.
The Chief said that as an avid reader, this had a real personal connection for him. He said there’s nothing like getting lost in a great book. He said in a world of distractions, it was important to encourage literacy to set children up for future success.
“That’s why this project is so important to me. It encourages that love of reading, inquisitiveness and adventure that will set children up truly to make a positive difference,” he said.
Ward 11 Coun. Kourtney Penner, who is the area city councillor and the council representative on the Calgary Public Library board, said this was a great collaboration between city departments seeing the project come to life.
“This was my home library when I was a kid and to see the way it is transformed, and the way it is transforming lives is a constant and continuous inspiration for the work that I do,” she said.
“When we create spaces for children to imagine themselves in the future and to find ways through cooperative play alongside others, we set them up for success.”
Chief Dongworth had some final words for the kids in the audience as they eagerly awaited their moment on the shiny new truck.
“As you climb aboard Engine 23 and experience the activities in the learning space, let your imagination soar and your curiosity run wild,” he said.
“You have the power to make a big difference in the world around you. So, dream big, be curious, and never forget where adventure and magic can take you.”
