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 15, 2022
Location: Brockville YMCA, 345 Park St., Brockville
Check-in: 8:30 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 18+.
Cost: $480 per team or $60 per individual

Register or support a team

How to register

Recruit your team of eight pullers, 18 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.)
Have each team member sign a waiver for the event (required) and a photo release (optional), on the day of the event. (If you prefer not to sign a photo release, please do not participate in group photos, which will be shared on social media.)
Visit Canada Helps and fill out the registration section.

Rules

Registration will be limited to the teams who complete and return their registration forms in good order, including the registration fee of $60/ team member or $480/ team by October 1, 2022.
ALL participants must sign a waiver of liability and photo release on the day of the event.
The fire truck pull will take place rain or shine on Saturday, October 15, 2022 beginning at 9 a.m.
Team start times will be assigned by a blind draw system once registration closes. Each team consists of eight pullers. Participants must be at least 18 years of age to pull.
Team captains are responsible for having their team 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.
A whistle will signal that your pull has begun. The timer also begins at the sound of the whistle.
There is a maximum of five-minutes to attempt a pull.
A referee will signal when the truck has crossed the finish line and timing will stop. All team members must drop the rope at the sound of the whistle so that the brakes of the truck can be applied.
Times for the truck pull will be determined by timekeepers. 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 fire truck or a designated fire truck, immediately after their 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.