Winnipeg Beach needs to replace two fire trucks, so it launched a lottery
A rural fire department is getting creative in its efforts to raise money to replace two fire trucks that have reached the end of the line – and it could mean a big win for one lucky Manitoba.
After decades of fighting fires in Winnipeg Beach, the rural fire department says it needs to retire its 1993 water pumper and 1979 water tanker.
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Winnipeg newsletters
“Everything has an expiry date,” said Dave Schellenberg, the department’s fire chief. “Fire apparatus is good for 20 years, maybe 25 years, but really, at that point, we should be looking at replacing it.”
But replacing the trucks comes with a hefty price tag – around $800,000 per truck. Each one is custom designed and built to meet a community's unique needs.
A Winnipeg Beach fire truck is pictured at the town's fire hall on Oct. 2, 2024. (Danton Unger/CTV News Winnipeg)
The department was able to secure a provincial grant that covers the cost of one truck, but the department is on the hook for the rest. It’s a cost that would typically be covered through a tax hike, Schellenberg said, but his crew wanted to avoid that.
“We don’t want to raise taxes – that’s the bottom line,” Schellenberg said. “So this is kind of our initiative to say, ‘hey, we don't want to raise taxes. We're going to try to do it ourselves and try to raise that money with support.’”
The department has launched a Manitoba-wide lottery to raise the funds. It’s called the Take-A-Year-Off Lottery. It comes with a grand prize of $52,000 or $1,000 a week for an entire year.
The lottery launched in mid-September, with the final draw set for Nov. 2.
More details about the lottery can be found on the Winnipeg Beach Fire Department Facebook page.
The department hopes to have the new trucks up and running by fall of 2026.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE UPDATES Tracking Hurricane Milton: Millions told to evacuate from worst storm 'in 100 years to hit Florida'
U.S. forecasters are warning of destructive waves, devastating winds and flash floods through the week as Hurricane Milton makes its way from the Yucatan Peninsula toward Florida.
Meteorologist becomes emotional giving update on Hurricane Milton
A seasoned American meteorologist became emotional on air as he gave an update on a major hurricane, later suggesting the reason behind his strong reaction.
'I hope so': Marc Garneau on whether Liberal party still has room for Blue Liberals
Former cabinet minister Marc Garneau, who describes himself in his new book as always-a-Liberal, 'but a decidedly blue one,' says he hopes the party still has room for someone like him.
'Extremely disappointed': Family of homicide victim storms out of courtroom as judge reads decision
Emotions boiled over after a judge acquitted two out of three defendants in a manslaughter case, while the third accused has since died.
WeightWatchers to offer compounded version of Wegovy weight-loss drug
WeightWatchers said on Tuesday it would offer a compounded version of Novo Nordisk's popular obesity drug Wegovy as part of its weight-management programs.
'I find it really disheartening': Family calls out police after Ottawa senior robbed in parking lot
On September 11, 80-year-old Madeleine Gervais was robbed in Ottawa's west end. It happened in the Loblaws parking lot in College Square, when she was approached by a man and a woman who insisted to help her load her groceries into her car.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Conservatives continue to attack Trudeau's potential successors
In his column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair argues that the dramatic side to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, and his tendency to 'play everything to the hilt,' could well become his undoing.
One American physician's long journey to becoming a family doctor in Canada
An American family doctor is frustrated with what she says has been a challenging two-year-and-counting bureaucratic journey to be accepted into Canada.
Is it safe to buy from Temu and Shein? Here's what Canada says it's doing to try to protect consumers
As U.S. regulators push for an investigation into what they call 'deadly baby and toddler products' from foreign e-commerce sites, health officials in Canada say they haven't determined whether any laws or regulations have been broken.