Published Nov 06, 2025Last updated 11 minutes ago6 minute readJonathan Gillis is president of the West Dalhousie Community Hall, which served as the incident command post during the Long Lake wildfire. A helicopter pilot searching for hotspots landed at the centre in mid-October. Photo by Jason Malloy /Annapolis Valley RegisterArticle contentThe power of community is alive in West Dalhousie.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe community hall became a pillar of strength during this summer’s Long Lake wildfire. The hall’s volunteers made meals and kept the hall operating as the incident command post for weeks, with firefighters working in the forest and water bombers dropping loads from the sky.Article contentArticle contentAs the out-of-control fire grew Aug. 24 – 11 days after the fire started – the command centre moved into Bridgetown. Hall president Jonathan Gillis remembers the look on officials’ faces. No words were shared. They weren’t required. Gillis could tell things were changing, and quickly.Article contentArticle content“I was pretty sure this was going,” he said of the community hall.Article contentThe fire destroyed 20 homes on West Dalhousie, Thorne and Morse roads. Another 11 outbuildings were destroyed or damaged on other properties.Article contentOne building that remains is the community hall. It will serve as a beacon for the community moving forward.Article contentThe significance of the hall is evident as Gillis speaks passionately about the building that once housed the hamlet’s school. His grandfather was one of the last students before the school closed. Gillis talks fondly about the blood, sweat and tears community leaders have invested into the building over the years.Article contentArticle contentGillis recalled having a coffee with treasurer Debbie Stultz-Giffin in the hall the day the evacuation order was lifted.Article contentArticle content“That was a nice feeling,” he said.Article contentThe hall has always meant a lot to Gillis. His parents were directors, and he was a junior director. He later served as treasurer for about a decade, taking over as president in April.Article contentThe hall was buzzing with activity for weeks this summer. During a recent interview, the hall was eerily quiet as one pondered the events of the past few months. Gillis said the connection with the community hall is deeper for him than ever.Article content“It means (everything),” he said. “It means the future.”Article contentCounty of Annapolis councillors have expressed the importance of community halls in recent years, and this summer drove home that sentiment even deeper.Article content“It has been an unprecedented time, but has brought out the meaning of community near and far to Annapolis County,” Coun. Gail (Gidget) Oxner said at the Oct. 21 council meeting.Article contentCoun. Nile Harding thanked all those who were involved in the wildfire response.Article content“The way the community came together in response to it was truly remarkable,” he said. “My thoughts are with those who lost their homes and must now begin the difficult process of rebuilding their lives.”Article content West Dalhousie Community Hall president Jonathan Gillis says the community is forever grateful to the firefighters who worked tirelessly battling the Long Lake wildfire this summer. Photo by Jonathan GillisArticle contentArticle contentEarly daysArticle contentThe fire started Aug. 13 following a lightning strike. Before long, provincial officials were asking if they could use the community hall and if the association could provide meals.Article contentThere were 17 for lunch on Aug. 14, which jumped to 80 for supper. The association put together a turkey dinner that night. Gillis’ mom, Christine Sarty, made a handful of lemon meringue pies, a couple coconut cream pies and a carrot cake.Article content“You go into catering mode first,” Gillis recalled.Article content Jonathan Gillis, president of the West Dalhousie Community Centre, serves a bowl of homemade vegetable soup to Andrew Mitton, director of regional operations with the Department of Emergency Management, during the Long Lake wildfire. Photo by Province of Nova ScotiaArticle contentThe hall hosts meals as fundraisers, but those traditionally occurred once a month, not a couple meals a day for weeks.Article contentArticle contentThe number fighting the fire kept growing until they reached a number that is etched in Gillis’ memory.Article content“I’ll never forget that – the 283,” he said. “That’s when it hits you – it’s big.”Article contentThe crew had a roast beef dinner that night and officials turned the leftover beef into steak sandwiches for lunch the next day. Gillis said they were complimented for the meals they were serving, but shared it was the community’s way of fuelling their “heroes.”Article contentAlong the way, volunteers began making sandwiches for lunches at the Bridgetown Curling Club. The numbers would be called in the day before and the crew would make the sandwiches for the officials fighting the fire. It allowed the volunteers in West Dalhousie to concentrate on breakfast and supper.Article contentThe initiative took a team effort to prepare the meals. It meant there were times when police, conservation officers and Nova Scotia Guard officials were peeling potatoes, pitching in to make the meals a success.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentHelpArticle contentGillis rattles off a long list of people who were instrumental in the work they did this summer. Gillis said he couldn’t believe how quickly they jumped in to help when called upon.Article contentOne example was after the hall’s refrigerators quit. A call was made to the Middleton Home Hardware and within an hour, two fridges were delivered, installed and the old ones removed.Article contentAnother day, the crew was preparing for a ham and beans supper with potato scallop when the ham fell through. Gillis picked up the phone and called Jennifer Ehrenfeld-Poole with an urgent request.Article content“I need 70 pounds of smoked picnic ham.”Article contentA few minutes later, she called him back to let him know she was on the way up the mountain with the ham.Article contentGillis remembers a crew from Shelburne County showing up with donations late one night in the early days of the fire. In 2023, they lived through what West Dalhousie was facing and wanted to help.Article content“I don’t even know what to say at times, because it’s kind of overwhelming,” Gillis said. “I would say that our community is blown away by the support – blown away.”Article contentArticle contentAssistanceArticle contentGillis said the community is forever grateful for the support from service clubs, like Rotary and the Lions, residents, businesses and various organizations have offered West Dalhousie. He remembers being called to the Bridgetown fire hall and being presented a cheque.Article content“It should be us thanking you,” Gillis recalled.Article contentHe remembers the good work Samaritan’s Purse did in helping residents with the cleanup. They also sifted through the rubble looking for valuables.Article content“It’s still happening – the generosity.”Article contentArticle contentFutureArticle contentNow, as residents work through the rebuild process, the hall plans for the future.Article contentGillis thinks back over the years and smiles as he considers the resiliency the community has shown over and over again.Article contentArticle content The Long Lake wildfire came extremely close to the West Dalhousie Community Hall this summer. Photo by Jonathan GillisArticle contentIt hasn’t always been easy. There’s been ups, such as people being turned away from dances that drew capacity crowds, and downs. Gillis remembers times when 20 or 30 people showed up to a fundraising dinner.Article content“This is how you pay the bills,” he noted. “Thirty people show up and that month it’s, ‘Can we pay the power bill?’”Article contentLike other rural communities, West Dalhousie saw populations decline as residents aged and people moved. There have been times when people didn’t always know other residents in the community.Article content“It’s been a fight for the community hall for quite some time to try and get that sense of community back,” Gillis said.Article contentBut that urge to come together was bubbling under the surface, he said.Article contentDuring the evacuation, residents were getting together nightly to have supper. As a way of keeping the connection going, the hall recently opened on Monday nights so people who enjoy radio bingo could play together.Article contentArticle contentGillis said officials have talked about long-term goals and of sustainability.Article contentDespite what the community has been through, residents are committed to rebuilding. Some with insurance have been told the rebuild will take 18 months, but that hasn’t deterred them. One resident had a trailer on their property on Sept. 20 – the day the evacuation order was lifted for the final evacuees.Article contentGillis pauses when asked what he’d like to share with the broader community as West Dalhousie rebuilds and plans for the future.Article content“#WorthTheDrive,” he said.Article content“Don’t count us out because we’re 10 minutes up from a town. Take the time to come up and see us and experience us. Come to our events.”Article contentGillis said officials hope to be an example for rural communities across the province.Article content“Communities like this are worth the drive,” he said, “go out and support them.”Article content
West Dalhousie Community Hall proves its importance during devastating wildfire
