In a ceremony that proved to be almost poetic, Halifax Fire & Emergency Services chief Doug Trussler carried out the last official day of his career on Friday by ushering in Halifax’s newest class of recruits.
“It’s like full circle for me. Today these 20 firefighters are starting their career and today I’m ending my career after 32 years,” Trussler said.
“It’s very special.”
Trussler originally began his career in Toronto before heading out west to Vancouver. He’s been leading Halifax’s fire department as chief for the last five years.
READ MORE: Halifax searches for next fire chief
“It’s kind of sad leaving some of the friends I’ve met over the last 32 years,” he said.
“I started the job and I’m now ending the job with some of the best people I ever met in my life.”
The graduation ceremony also marked the end of a gruelling 14 week training program that included both physical and mental testing. The spring graduating class included a former police officer, a parole officer, along with volunteer firefighters. One of those former volunteers is Amanda Christoff, one of only two women in the group.
Get daily National news
“I started volunteering out in the rural areas and I just fell in love with firefighting,” she said.
“I didn’t know that it was a career path for me, so I hope that by being a woman, I do inspire other girls to do it.”
READ MORE: Hiker rescued by Halifax Fire after fall off Bedford cliff
While some will soon discover the true weight of the uniform, others, like Matthew Sidney, have already experienced it first hand.
Sidney was working as a firefighter in Fort McMurray during the 2016 wildfires and was one of the many people who lost their homes as a result.
“I stayed behind and worked with my fire department there to combat the wildfire,” he said.
“My family made it to Edmonton and then further on to Cape Breton where they spent the next four months while I flew back and forth to Fort McMurray.”
READ MORE: Halifax Fire rescue deer stranded on Long Lake
Sidney said while his heart is still with the people in Alberta, he is happy to be able to serve and protect the province where he was born.
“Obviously we all do it for the same reasons – we love to help people. It feels good to be happy to help people in my own province,” he said.
Some of the newly appointed firefighters will begin work as early as this weekend, serving at fire halls stretching from Sheet Harbour to Black Point.
Comments