For the first time in the Estevan Fire Rescue Service's history, members of the local fire department participated in the Canadian Firefighters Memorial Ceremony on Sept. 14, during its 11th annual event.
Captain Kyle Luc, who was elected to the national board of directors for the Canadian Volunteer Fire Services Association in March and his peer, Capt. Charles Olsen, the Saskatchewan director of the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation (CFFF), were in Ottawa for the annual ceremony that paid tribute to the 1,199 Canadian firefighters who have lost their lives serving Canada since 1848. Nine names were added to the memorial wall this year, one of whom lived in Saskatchewan.
"I was told beforehand 'it doesn't matter how strong of a firefighter you are, you're going to cry,' and I thought, 'that won't happen.' But there wasn't a dry eye in that place during the ceremony," said Luc.
The Canadian Volunteer Fire Services Association acted as the host committee for the ceremony this year and helped with the monumental task of organizing hospitality suites for families of the fallen, their transportation to and from the airport and arranging other events throughout the weekend.
"They had two great big aerial trucks with a giant Canadian flag flying in the air, which you walk beside as you enter the area where the ceremony takes place," said Olsen. "It was very touching."
Deputy fire chief Dale Feser praised his fellow firefighters for being a part of such an important event, adding it was a great honour to have the province of Saskatchewan represented through not only the CFFF but through the host committee as well.
"I was honoured to have two of my members sent out there," said Feser.
Olsen mentioned one of his primary roles as a CFFF director will be to continue to spread the word about the fire services in Saskatchewan, in order for the province to be better represented at the memorial ceremony.
Feser and four other Estevan firefighters now look forward to a six-day "top notch" training program in Colorado called the Certec Course, which will begin on Oct. 14.
