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The YMCA of Eastern Ontario’s annual fire truck pull has become a community favourite with teams raising money for the Y and competing for bragging rights, year after year.

The George E. Smith Memorial Fire Truck Pull is proudly presented by Burnbrae Farms and the YMCA of Eastern Ontario. The event raises funds for the YMCA’s financial assistance program that provides support to those in our community who would not otherwise be able to access the Y’s healthy and inclusive programs and services. The need in the community has grown during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The YMCA is pleased to recognize George E. Smith’s lifelong contribution to the health and wellness of the Brockville and area community by naming the event the George E. Smith Memorial Fire Truck Pull.

George was a long-time volunteer at the Y, as a chair and president of the Brockville and Area YMCA Board of Directors, as a committee member helping to raise funds for a new Y building, and as a member and chair of many annual giving campaigns. He was named the YMCA Volunteer of the Year in 2008, receiving the Dr. Stanley “Y” Values Award.

The event

Teams of eight compete to see which team can pull a fire truck the fastest. Maybe your team is fast enough to beat last year’s champions, the Brockville Fire Department that raced to the finish in 30 seconds!

Date: October 14, 2023
Location: Brockville YMCA, 345 Park St., Brockville
Check-in: 8 am

Registration

Get your team together to have some fun and raise money for your YMCA’s financial assistance program!

Teams: 8 per team. Must be 16+
Cost: $480 per team or $60 per individual
Deadline to register: October 1, 2023

Donate / Sponsor

Register a team

Waiver & Photo Release Form

How to register

Recruit your team of eight pullers, 16 years of age and over. Your cheering section is welcome!
Choose your team captain and a team name.
Choose your category: Male, Female or Mixed Teams.
Become familiar with the rules pages. (See rules link below.)
Each team member is required to sign a waiver for the event and a photo release, on the day of the event. Anyone who does not sign a waiver and a photo release will not be allowed to pull.
Visit Canada Helps and fill out the registration section.

Rules

Registration will be open to all teams who complete and return their registration forms in good order, including the registration fee of $60 minimum pledge per team member or $480/ team.
ALL participants must sign a waiver of liability and photo release on the day of the event.
Registration on Saturday, October 14, 2023, will be open at 8-8:50 am.
The fire truck pull will take place rain or shine on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at approximately 9:15 am, immediately following the small truck pull for children and youth.
Team start times will be assigned by a blind draw system once registration closes.
Each team consists of 8 pullers. Any person without a signed waiver and photo release will not be allowed to pull.
Participants must be at least 16 years of age to pull.
Team Captains are responsible for having their team ready, picking up the t-shirts, 15 minutes prior to their scheduled pull time.
Teams may not attach anything to the rope. They may remove slack but not commence pulling until signalled. No jerking of the rope is allowed.
The signal to pull is ‘Ready, Set and the blowing of the whistle’ Once the whistle blows the timer begins.
There is a maximum time for a pull. After 5 minutes, if your team has not pulled the Fire Truck across the finish line, the team will be disqualified.
A referee with signal when the truck has crossed the finish line and timing will stop. A whistle will blow and a flag waived. All team members must drop the rope at the whistle so that the brakes of the truck can be applied.
Times for the truck pull will be determined by time-keepers operating stop watches. If different times are recorded the average time will be used. The ruling of the referee stands.
Should there be a tie for a place in the best score, there will be a pull-off to determine the winner.
Pull times will be listed on a score board near the team area.
Participants are encouraged to wear loose fitting clothing, running shoes and gloves. Closed toe shoes are required, sandals are not permitted.
A two-inch diameter rope will be used.
Team pictures may be taken with the truck immediately after the pull is completed, before the truck is returned to the start line. Teams must then clear the area for safety.
A group photo of all participants/ teams together will take place at the end of the Annual Fire Truck Pull Event at the front of the Fire Truck

Small Truck Pull

This year's event will also have a Small Truck Pull for younger participants.

General Information

Registration will take place on site on Saturday, October 14, 2023, from 8-8:45 am
Registration fee of $5/ child or youth ($20/ team minimum pledges).
Each participant must have a signed a waiver of liability and photo release (Note: parent/ guardian for children under 18
years) and submit with their team registration.
For teams under the age of 13: Each team consists of six pullers, two of whom must be 18+ years of age
For teams of ages 13-15 years: Each team consists of four pullers.
Any person without a signed waiver and photo release will not be allowed to pull.
Please refer to rules.
Please print and sign waivers.
Please print and bring registration form.

Rules

Registration will take place on Saturday, October 14, 2023, from 8:00 am-8:45 am and will be confirmed for those who complete and return their registration forms in good order, including the registration fee of $5/ child or youth ($20/ team minimum pledges).
ALL participants must have a signed a waiver of liability and photo release (Note: parent/ guardian for children/ youth age 13-15 years) and submit with their team registration. Parent/ guardian present for children/ youth age under 12 years)
The Small Truck Pull will take place rain or shine on Saturday, October 14,2023 at approximately 9:00 a.m. immediately following welcome speeches and before the Fire Truck Pull.
Team start times will be assigned by a blind draw system once registration closes.
Each team consists of 6 pullers, two of which must be over 18 years of age for children/ youth under age 13. Any person without a signed waiver and photo release will not be allowed to pull.
Each team consists of 4 pullers for ages 13-15 years. Any person without a signed waiver and photo release will not be allowed to pull.
Teams ready 15 minutes prior to their scheduled pull time.
Teams may not attach anything to the rope. They may remove slack but not commence pulling until signalled. No jerking of the rope is allowed.
The signal to pull is ‘Ready, Set and the blowing of the whistle’ Once the whistle blows the timer begins.
There is a maximum time for a pull. After 5 minutes, if your team has not pulled the camp car across the finish line, the team will be disqualified.
A referee with signal when the car has crossed the finish line. A whistle will blow. All team members must drop the rope at the whistle so that the brakes of the car can be applied.
Participants are encouraged to wear loose fitting clothing, running shoes and gloves. Closed toe shoes are required, sandals are not permitted.
A two-inch diameter rope will be used.
Team pictures may be taken with the small truck immediately after the pull is completed, before the truck is returned to the start line. Teams must then clear the area for safety.