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TYENDINAGA MOHAWK TERRITORY — When PUSH for Life and Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte Community Health announced a partnership that would see Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory take steps to become Canada’s first Heart Safe Community, organizers knew they’d need to help and support of businesses in the community to make it happen.
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Among the first business owners to step up was Trevor Lewis, the owner of Village Variety & Gas Bar, nestled along Highway 2 near Shannonville.
Lewis, along with other business owners in the territory, was offered the chance to be a part of the Public Access Defibrillator program that aims to install state-of-the-art equipment at sites around the territory.
Lewis, 56, didn’t have to be asked twice, he said in an interview inside his office, noting that he had both professional and personal reasons for wanting to be a part.
“Being a business in the community, I rely on the community for customers, for workers,” the former MBQ councillor said. “My business has a good location, so therefore I get a lot of support. If I didn’t have that support, I wouldn’t have a successful business. … With any kind of initiatives or sports teams or kids who need something, I try to support them because I know they’re supporting me. That’s the basic aspect of how I sort of operate.”
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The importance of life-saving measures also holds special meaning for Lewis.
“Both of my sons are currently first responders with the Mohawk Fire and Rescue department and my wife is retired as a first responder with the Mohawk fire department, so I know first-hand how important first responders are, how the fire department is needed and subsequently these devices as part of that,” Lewis said.
“We have living proof in our community of someone who is still here because of one. We hear stories all the time about how they’ve saved lives, so to me it’s just kind of a no-brainer that I would support this.”
In March, officials from PUSH for Life and MBQ Community Health announced the partnership, with plans to install the SaveStation units across the territory after approaching businesses. The stations have been rolling out in the months since.
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While a few other communities throughout Canada have installed some SaveStation units in their regions, TMT is looking to become the first to fully implement them throughout the community.
“To me, it’s the type of thing, the same as the fire department or a first responder, that you hope you never need, but if you do, you’re glad it’s there,” Lewis said.
Lewis spoke proudly when talking about his involvement in the communitywide initiative.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to live, grow up, go to school and work in this community my whole life,” he said. “A lot of people don’t have that opportunity. They have to go elsewhere to work or elsewhere to go to school or whatever. I’ve been here my whole life in this community.
“I’m very proud of this community. Going back in recent history, this has become (known as) the gas station, cigarette, (cannabis) store capital of Ontario and Canada, but really it’s the birthplace of the Peacemaker and that story is very important to us. And it’s very important to me. I’d rather be known as that.”
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Lewis is certain the stations will save lives.
“I’ve known a few people who would have been a little more fortunate if there would have been a device nearby,” he said. “Like I said before, it’s one of those things where you hope you never, ever have to use it, but if it’s there, then it’s good.”
Lewis praised the community members and officials who pushed for the initiative and welcomed the opportunity to help make it happen, both by having a station at his business, and sponsoring others around the territory.
“When I was first approached, I saw it as an opportunity to get one in my own business — another thing that I would put in my business to help be of assistance to the community,” he said. “But then when they offered the opportunity to sponsor the devices in other areas, higher traffic areas or places that might need it more, like the ball diamond. The ball diamond is an awesome place to have one because you’ve got physical activity going on and a lot of people there and a lot of times, that’s where things can happen.”
Jan Murphy is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Belleville Intelligencer. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
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