By Mark Squibb
November 17, 2023 Edition
Rachel Roebotham of Mary Queen of the World Elementary was named ‘Fire Chief for A Day’ last Thursday.
As part of her official duties, she rode in a firetruck, met with the mayors of St. John’s, Mount Pearl, and Paradise, and lunched at McDonalds.
Rachel was named chief for the day after winning the St. John’s Regional Fire Department’s annual Fire Prevention Week poster contest, and said she was super excited, and happy, when her dad Jamie told her that she had won.
“We’re super proud of her,” said Jamie. “But we couldn’t tell anybody until the school knew that she had officially won, so everybody was chomping at the bit to tell everybody that she had won. We’re all really proud of her.”
Both Jamie and wife Rhonda were able to get the day off to share the excitement with their daughter.
“Family is the most important thing, so you try to make that a priority,” said Jamie. “We’re going to enjoy the day with our new fire chief.”
The Department had Rachel’s poster framed, and Fire Prevention Officer Cara Pardy presented the Grade 6 student with the framed poster outside of her school on Thursday morning.
Pardy said picking a winner from amongst over 400 entries was no easy task.
“It’s always hard to choose a winner, because we have a lot of great entries,” said Pardy. “Good artwork is important, and we also look for good safety tips, and that’s what we find even more important.”
This year’s Fire Prevention Week theme was ‘Cooking Safety Starts With You,’ and some of the tips on Rachel’s poster included ‘Don’t leave the stove unattended,’ and ‘Use oven mitts.’
Though she was glad to accept the mantle of fire chief for a day, Rachel hopes to be a teacher like her father when she grows up.
She said firefighters have to be brave and willing to help people.
Mary Queen of the World grade six student Rachel Roebotham was named the St. John’s Regional Fire Department ‘Fire Chief for the Day’ last week after her Fire Prevention Week poster was selected as a winner from amongst over 400 entries. With Rachel are parents Rhonda and Jamie, who were able to spend the day with Rachel as she attended to her official duties. Mark Squibb photo
