Hartland High Huskies and community hold ceremony to honour Hartland Fire Chief Mike Walton
On Friday, Dec. 20, the Day & Ross Community Centre stood still as the community honoured the 40 years of service of long-serving Hartland Fire Department Chief Mike Walton.
“The fire department has been more than just a job to Mike Walton. It has been his passion,” said Hartland Mayor Tracy DeMerchant when asked about Waltons’ contributions to the department and town.
“You won’t find anyone in the valley that works any harder or better,” she continued.
She also called Walton a giver and complimented his selflessness.
Many firefighters, some from departments as far away as Oromocto, were on hand at the ceremony to honour Walton.
“The idea [for the ceremony] came from the Hartland Huskies,” said Hartland Recreation Coordinator Dana Stokoe.
From the ceremony’s inception, the planning process went exceptionally smoothly.
Walton’s participation in his community has been wide-reaching and has touched almost every Hartland resident in some way.
“There’d probably be a lot more houses burnt down by now,” joked Stokoe when asked what Hartland would look like without Waltons’ contributions.
In addition to his contributions to the fire department, Walton is always ready to support the community through his construction businesses.
“If [someone’s] equipment brakes down he is always the first to come in and let them use his,” said nephew Samuel Walton, speaking on his uncle’s contributions to the community.
DeMerchant, deputy fire chief Roy Reid, and a few of Walton’s family members were at the commemoration.
Unfortunately, Walton was unable to attend due to medical complications.
During the ceremony, members of the Hartland Huskies presented custom jerseys, a framed collage featuring moments from Waltons career, and a framed photo of him to members of his family and Reid.
Shortly after the ceremony had concluded, Reid fell on the arena stairs and cut himself on the glass from a picture frame.
Firefighters in attendance quickly tended to him before he headed to the hospital. Reid is currently fine after being seen at the hospital later that night.
