The North Cypress-Langford Fire Department is inviting everyone to its annual Fireman’s Breakfast on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at the Carberry Plains Community Centre. For just a few dollars, residents can fill their plates and show their support for the local volunteer firefighters who protect Carberry and the surrounding municipality.
The event is a key fundraiser for the volunteer-run department. Fire Chief Clyde McCallum and his crew of men and women respond to emergencies across the area out of their station at 515 4th Avenue. Like many rural departments, they rely heavily on community fundraising to keep their trucks and equipment ready.
This year’s breakfast comes as volunteer firefighter numbers keep falling across Manitoba. Fewer people are signing up, and that has rural departments worried about having enough members to answer calls. Events like the Fireman’s Breakfast not only raise money but also give neighbours a chance to see the faces behind the helmets and maybe even spark an interest in joining.
In October 2024, the department was honoured with Manitoba’s Order of the Buffalo Hunt. Premier Wab Kinew presented the award for the crew’s work at the June 2023 highway crash near Carberry that killed 17 people. It was a solemn reminder of the heavy load these volunteers carry while holding down regular jobs.
In June 2025, four Carberry firefighters including Grady Stephenson drove a pumper truck 15 hours north to help battle wildfires near Pukatawagan and Flin Flon. They spent over a week on the fire lines as part of a provincial mutual aid effort, living out the same commitment to service that started when the department was formed back in 1899 after a fire destroyed ten downtown businesses.
Breakfast gets underway at 8 a.m. and runs until 11 a.m. Anyone looking for more information can call the fire hall at 204-834-6607 or visit the Municipality of North Cypress-Langford website.
