What Kelowna Fire Department Station #1 does

Kelowna Fire Department Station #1 is the operational base for the Kelowna Professional Firefighters Charitable Society, a registered Canadian charity (CRA #864459342 RR 0001) established in 1996 and run entirely by off-duty Kelowna firefighters who volunteer their time. The organization traces its firefighter roots to 1905 and operates from Station #1 at 2255 Enterprise Way plus Station #2 at 1616 Water Street in Kelowna, British Columbia. It is not a commercial enterprise — its "products" are community programs and fundraising events rather than goods or services sold to customers. Programs include the Healthy Snack Program (monthly snack deliveries to 7-9 elementary schools via fire trucks), Dare to Dream (family emergency assistance), Memorial Bursaries (post-secondary education funding), Secret Santa (Christmas gifts for underprivileged families), and the Bigger Smiles Project (assistive devices for disabled children).

The revenue model is donation- and event-driven rather than transactional. Income comes from individual and business donations accepted online at Bronze ($50), Silver ($250), and Gold ($500) tiers or via custom amounts, plus proceeds from annual fundraising events: the Slo-Pitch Tournament (since 1978), 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb, Falcons Night Out (since 2012 with the Kelowna Falcons), Boot Drive (supporting Muscular Dystrophy Foundation), Rooftop Campout and Kids Firefighter Challenge (since 2018 at the Kelowna Yacht Club), and the Okanagan Sun Burn Fund Classic. Distribution of charitable services occurs through fire hall locations, fire truck deliveries, community event venues, and online channels, while go-to-market is community-led via the website, social media, local event presence, and word-of-mouth. The stated differentiator is that 100% of funds raised are donated to people in need, with no paid administrative overhead beyond a 9-person operational team.

The organization is embedded in a regional ecosystem of community partners — BC Children's Hospital, BC SPCA, Burn Fund, Canadian Cancer Society, Cops For Kids, End Summer Hunger, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, and Mamas For Mamas — alongside commercial GTM partners (Kelowna Falcons, Okanagan Sun, Kelowna Yacht Club). There is no parent company, no outside equity ownership, and no disclosed financial statements; the entity is governed by its volunteer members and operates exclusively within British Columbia's Okanagan region.

Name

Kelowna Fire Department Station #1

Legal name

Kelowna Professional Firefighters Charitable Society

Website

https://kelownafirefighters.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1905

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Kelowna Professional Firefighters Charitable Society is a registered Canadian charity run by off-duty Kelowna firefighters since 1996, delivering community programs (Healthy Snack Program, Dare to Dream, Memorial Bursaries, Secret Santa, Bigger Smiles Project) and annual fundraising events serving Kelowna families, school children, and post-secondary students in British Columbia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Charity Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK), Community Fundraisers & Charity Events (Gala/Walks excluded) (MPAGAEAK), Fundraising & Annual Giving (EDALAOAB)

Keywords

• Charitable fundraising programs
• Firefighter community outreach
• Emergency fire services
• Family assistance programs
• Volunteer public safety

Headquarters

HQ city

Kelowna

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The organization generates revenue primarily through charitable donations from individuals and businesses. Donation tiers include Bronze ($50), Silver ($250), and Gold ($500) levels. All funds raised go directly to supporting community programs and those in need.
2. Event-Based Fundraising: Revenue generated through organized community events including Slo-Pitch Tournament, Falcons Night Out, 9/11 Stair Climb, Boot Drives, and Rooftop Campout. Proceeds support the Kelowna Firefighters Charitable Society programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The organization, through the Kelowna Professional Firefighters Charitable Society, delivers community support programs including school snack deliveries, family emergency assistance, post-secondary bursaries, Christmas gift drives, and accessibility support for children with disabilities. It is funded by charitable donations and revenue from annual community fundraising events such as the Slo-Pitch Tournament, 9/11 Stair Climb, Falcons Night Out, Boot Drive, and Rooftop Campout, with 100% of funds directed to people in need.

Product overview

Kelowna Fire Department Station #1 operates through the Kelowna Professional Firefighters Charitable Society (established 1996, CRA #864459342 RR 0001) as a community-focused organization offering multiple support programs and annual fundraising events. The core programs include the Healthy Snack Program delivering food to schools, Dare to Dream family emergency assistance, Memorial Bursaries for post-secondary students, Secret Santa Christmas gifts, and Bigger Smiles Project for disabled children. Annual events include Slo-Pitch Tournament (since 1978), 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb, Falcons Night Out, Boot Drive for Muscular Dystrophy, Rooftop Campout with Kids Firefighter Challenge, Okanagan Sun Game, and various boot drives at Rockets games and grocery stores. The organization has donated over $10,000 in the past 5 years and has contributed 1000+ volunteer hours annually, serving 7 schools with the snack program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Healthy Snack Program Monthly delivery of healthy snacks to Kelowna elementary schools via fire trucks, aimed at addressing childhood hunger and food insecurity among students.
• Dare to Dream Family assistance program providing emergency financial support, groceries, school supplies, and basic necessities to Kelowna families experiencing hardship from disasters, illness, injury, or loss, ranging from temporary aid to comprehensive recovery support.
• Memorial Bursaries Post-secondary education bursaries funded by Kelowna firefighters to help students with schooling costs through an application-based process.
• Secret Santa Christmas gift program in which firefighters' children bring gifts for children in need, supplemented by the Charitable Society to ensure children and parents receive something for Christmas.
• Bigger Smiles Project Program connecting families of children with disabilities to necessary assistive devices and accessibility resources to improve children's quality of life.
• Slo-Pitch Tournament Annual fundraising tournament hosting firefighters from British Columbia and the United States, with all proceeds benefiting the Kelowna Firefighters Charitable Society.
• 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb Annual memorial event on September 11 where first responders and the public climb Knox Mountain in uniform after a full 911 ceremony with Honour Guard, honouring those lost in the line of duty.
• Falcons Night Out Annual fundraiser partnered with the Kelowna Falcons (West Coast League) baseball game, featuring a kids zone, between-innings games, 50/50 draw, and fireworks show, with $10 tickets.
• Boot Drive Traditional firefighter fundraising initiative in which volunteers collect donations in boots at community locations to support the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation.
• Rooftop Campout and Kids Firefighter Challenge Weekend event at the Kelowna Yacht Club in which firefighters camp on the roof while children participate in a firefighter-themed obstacle course, with boot collection for the Charitable Society.
• Okanagan Sun Game (Burn Fund Classic) Annual fundraiser partnering with the Okanagan Sun football team to raise awareness for burn survivors, featuring a firefighter vs. kids halftime tug of war, raffle, and firetruck display.

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• BC Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner listed on the Kelowna Fire Fighters website, indicating a collaborative relationship in supporting children's health and welfare initiatives.
• BC SPCAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting animal welfare initiatives in coordination with the fire department's charitable efforts.
• Burn FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting burn survivors through the Okanagan Sun Game event. The Burn Fund Classic raises awareness for burn survivors and the burn community.
• Canadian Cancer SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner in the fight against cancer, collaborating on fundraising and awareness initiatives.
• Cops For KidscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing support for children in need, aligning with the charitable society's mission to help local families.
• End Summer HungercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner addressing childhood hunger during summer months, complementing the Healthy Snack Program during the school year.
• Juvenile Diabetes FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting children and families affected by Type 1 diabetes.
• Mamas For MamascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting mothers and families in need, aligning with the society's mission to alleviate poverty.
• Kelowna Falcons (Nonis Family)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSince 2012, the Nonis family (owners of the Kelowna Falcons baseball team) has partnered with the charitable society to host Falcons Night Out fundraiser. The event includes a regular season game, kids zone, games/challenges, 50/50 draw, and fireworks show.
• Okanagan SuncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFirst responders partner with the Okanagan Sun football team for the annual Okanagan Sun Burn Fund Classic, featuring firefighter vs. kids halftime tug of war, raffle, and firetruck display.
• Muscular Dystrophy FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Boot Drive program supports the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation, with firefighters collecting donations to help those with neuromuscular conditions improve their quality of life.
• Kelowna Yacht ClubcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for the annual Rooftop Campout and Kids Firefighter Challenge events held downtown next to the Kelowna Yacht Club.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• IAFF Charitable Foundation: The national charitable arm of the International Association of Fire Fighters in the United States. Comparable as the umbrella charitable vehicle for professional firefighters, with a far broader geographic reach but the same firefighter-led community model.
• BC Children's Hospital Foundation: A large, professionally staffed provincial health charity and listed Kelowna community partner. Comparable as a major BC-based charitable organization with overlapping child-welfare and family-support focus, but operating at significantly larger scale and with paid infrastructure.

Direct peers

• Calgary Firefighters Charitable Foundation: A Canadian firefighter-run charitable foundation that hosts community events and funds local programs. Directly comparable as another Canadian professional firefighter charity with an event-driven fundraising model and similar community-program structure.
• BC Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund: A British Columbia firefighter-led charitable organization focused on burn survivor support and prevention. Directly comparable because it is run by BC professional firefighters, partners with the Kelowna Firefighters Charitable Society on the Okanagan Sun Burn Fund Classic, and operates the same volunteer-driven, community-event fundraising model.
• Vancouver Firefighters' Charitable Society: Another BC-based professional firefighter charitable society running community programs and events. Directly comparable due to the same firefighter volunteer base, community program structure, and event-based fundraising approach in the same Canadian regulatory environment.
• Toronto Professional Fire Fighters' Association: A Canadian municipal firefighter association with an associated charitable and community-outreach arm. Comparable as a professional firefighter body running community fundraising events, holiday drives, and family support programs analogous to Kelowna's Secret Santa and Dare to Dream.

Emerging players

• Mamas for Mamas: A Canadian charity supporting mothers and families in need. Directly comparable because it is a Kelowna community partner whose mission around alleviating poverty and supporting families mirrors the Kelowna Firefighters' Dare to Dream and Bigger Smiles programs.
• Cops for Kids: A first-responder-led BC charity supporting children in need. Directly comparable as a sibling first-responder charity with overlapping program themes (children and families in need) and shared community partner status with the Kelowna Firefighters Charitable Society.
• End Summer Hunger (Province-wide Initiative): A food-security initiative partnering with the Kelowna Healthy Snack Program during summer months. Comparable as a thematic peer addressing childhood food insecurity through community-driven programs, and a direct operational partner.
• Muscular Dystrophy Canada: A national health nonprofit that the Kelowna Boot Drive directly supports. Comparable because the Boot Drive program is a fundraising channel for this organization, making it both a partner and a thematic peer in firefighter-charity-led community fundraising for neuromuscular conditions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kelowna-fire-department-station-1

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Kelowna Fire Department Station #1