DAWSON CITY – It was a polite demonstration.

Somewhere between 50 and 65 people gathered Friday afternoon along the dike opposite Dawson’s town hall/fire Hall, and in the parking lot across Front Street.

They were there to offer what organizer Jamie Tweedie called a rally “to come together and show our love, appreciation and support for our fire chief, Jim Regimbal, as he will be attending his appeal hearing.”

Most Dawson residents were shocked when it was announced – again via Facebook – during the last week of March, that Regimbal, the town’s popular and highly respected protective services manager, had been dismissed from his job.

Regimbal had served in that position for just about a decade.

He was responsible for many major projects connected with his job.

Those included the acquisition and distribution of carbon monoxide detectors, a street addressing initiative, and the extension of 911 emergency services outside of the territorial capital (in his role as a president of the Yukon Association of Fire Chiefs).

He has also been highly praised for numerous other acts.

Tweedie’s proposal was posted on the Dawson City Town Crier and Buyer Facebook page days in advance of the date of the Regimbal’s appeal hearing.

“Jim has dedicated his life to helping others, always ensured the safety for our community, volunteered in community events, been an advocate for community, coached hockey/baseball, supported the community in times of crisis and been there as a shoulder to cry on for many people.

“ ... We would like to show this by having the community make signs of support showing appreciation, love, anything really to be seen by Jim as he goes into the meeting. It also would show the mayor and council that we stand in solidarity with our chief.”

There was a flurry of questions and comments following the initial post.

A plan was developed to make signs at the Dawson Hardware Store before Friday’s 6:30 p.m. hearing.

Lots of people still wanted to know an answer to the big question for which no answer is available: why had this happened?

The City of Dawson was constrained not to comment by privacy regulations and the former fire chief by the need to maintain silence prior to his appeal hearing, so all that speculation was pointless.

Hoping to create a positive event, Tweedie posted,” This is a show of support for our Fire Chief Jim Regimbal, not a protest. This is an act of positive community support.”

There were 35 people of all ages seen during an early count before 6 p.m. There were 50 half an hour later, but some had been and gone, so the actual number was probably higher.

They gathered on both sides of the street. At no time was traffic impeded. Some people honked their horns as they drove by.

Mayor Wayne Potoroka, along with councillors Kyla McArthur and Stephen Johnson, came out of the hall and walked over to talk to the crowd.

They were greeted with spirited but good-natured shouts of “Hell, no, CAO; we don’t want our chief to go.”

The mayor snapped pictures with his cell phone, as he does at many community events. Somewhat later, Coun. Jay Farr entered the building.

Shortly before 6:30, Regimbal arrived with his partner and his legal counsel. He acknowledged the crowd’s applause with a slight bow and several gestures of his hand over his heart before entering the building.

There were several dozen signs held by young and old (some of whom were in lawn chairs) during the demonstration.

“Dawson’s Fire Department is awesome. Thank you ALL; you have a great Fire Chief.”

“Burned out? Not our Fire Chief Jim.”

”We thank our fire dept. and fire chief for all their time and energy looking after us.”

“We appreciate our fire dept. Thank you all and thank you Jim for your community support.”

“Jim Regimbal was there for me,” was the sign held by Joann Vriend, a skier who was rescued after falling over a cliff onto the Klondike River ice by a crew that included Regimbal, firefighters, Rangers and RCMP.

“The City of Dawson only benefits with people like Jim Regimbal and all our volunteers,” read the sign held by elder Victor Henry.

“Be professional. Reinstate our Fire Chief Jim.

“Bad decisions are made, but it takes a special person to admit they made one. Do we have any special people in City Office?”

It was a polite demonstration of support for the man and for his work.

No final answers, nor a result of the appeal hearing, were to be expected that evening.