The District of North Vancouver Fire Fighters Charitable Society has found a new way to help raise money and awareness for its many causes.
The charitable society has teamed up with Bridge Brewing Co. on a limited edition collaboration brew that launched on Saturday (Aug. 14).
Aaron Hoverd, vice-president of the DNV Fire Fighters Charitable Society, said it was the first time the society had worked with a local brewery and they were “excited” to see how it goes.
“One of our members is good friends with the brewer there and we just had a discussion on whether it would be something good to do in the summer, and he was super keen to do a beer in collaboration with us,” he said.
David Brown, director of sales for Bridge Brewing Co., said the brewery always tried to support local organizations as much as it could through its charitable ventures, and had also worked with others including Family Services of the North Shore and local Lions clubs.
“It’s a great cause," he said. "It just seemed like a no-brainer for us to team up with them and help get their message out, and also help them make a good beer but also help raise some money at the same time.
“What I love about them is that they cover so much and they give to so many different things,” he said. “They're always looking for where the money's needed."
For the collab, Bridge Brewing has crafted the Firefighters Charity Dry Hopped Blonde ale and describes it as a balanced beer “with fruity notes from Citra and Sorachi Ace hops,” grown locally in Pemberton.
“It’s really crisp, really clear, and really, really drinkable,” Brown said. "It’s five per cent and just a very approachable beer.
“We wanted to make sure that it was something people could drink a lot of.”
While Hoverd hasn’t had a chance to try the beer, yet, he’s heard it’s “perfect for summer.”
He’s hoping others will give it a taste, as a portion of the funds from the beers sold will be going toward the society’s latest cause, Buddy Check for Jesse – a youth-focused non-profit organization – helping to change the conversation around youth mental health.
“It supports the local brewer and local mental health initiatives across the North Shore,” Hoverd said.
The society has partnered with the Buddy Check program, which was started by B.C. father Dr. Stu Gershman in memory of his son Jesse Anders Short-Gershman, an intelligent young man who struggled with his mental health and took his own life at the age of 22.
“We’ve just started the program with sports teams and youth on the North Shore and having mental health talks with them,” Hoverd said.
So far, 11 sports teams or 144 kids across the North Shore have been reached through the program.
The DNV Fire Fighters Charitable Society is a group of about 130 dedicated firefighters and fire service staff who volunteer their time and resources to support North Shore charities and causes.
Since 1954, the society has been working hard to raise funds to support many organizations including the BCPFF Burn Fund, Athletics 4 Kids, Muscular Dystrophy Canada, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Make a Wish Foundation, the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation, and more.
Bridge Brewing has two locations in North Vancouver and four-packs of the limited edition beers can be found at the Lonsdale BridgeDeck tasting room at 1211 Lonsdale Ave. and the brewery at 1448 Charlotte Rd.
The beer will also be available on tap, with $1 from every pour going toward the society while supplies last.
“Any way you drink it, it's still going to be going to help the cause,” Brown said.
As well as at Bridge Brewing locations, the limited edition brew is available at liquor stores across the North Shore and Metro Vancouver.
Elisia Seeber is the North Shore News’ Indigenous and civic affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
