Caronport fire Chief Rod Appleby was left speechless when his crew presented him with a national award that recognized his 40 years of service as a firefighter.
Appleby received the Governor General’s Fire Services Exemplary Service Medal and two bars on Oct. 19 during the Caronport Fire Department’s inaugural fall supper, held at the community hall in the Hamlet of Caron and attended by more than 150 people. Caronport Mayor Daniel Buck and deputy fire Chief Amy Long presented Appleby with his medal and certificate.
“I had no idea this was coming,” Appleby exclaimed after taking the stage, telling the crowd he did not have a speech prepared.
“This is an honour. I’m … I’m unprepared,” Appleby added, generating laughter from the crowd.
Appleby stepped off the stage, but came back up a few minutes later and thanked the firefighters for their service. He also thanked the wives of the firefighters for supporting the department over the years.
He pointed out that, when communication was slower, his wife and other wives had call lists and would phone firefighters to inform them their help was needed, whenever the alarm rang at the fire hall in Caronport. Sometimes those calls were made even in the middle of the night.
Appleby also singled out some alumni at the supper who used to work for the fire department.
“It’s a thrill for me to see people being a part of our department and then moving on to doing all sorts of other things … ,” he added.
One of the interesting things during the past 40 years has been how the fire service has evolved, Appleby said later. Equipment, dispatch, the number of calls and the type of calls have all changed. It has been a challenge to keep up with those changes. What never changes, though, is responding to calls and supporting others.
“One of the best parts is we often meet people during their worst days,” he continued, “and it’s a chance to help people (and) it’s a chance to minister to people who are really in need. So that’s a fulfilling thing too.”
One aspect of firefighting that Appleby has appreciated has been the dedication and commitment of volunteers, some of whom have turned into friends.
Appleby moved to the Village of Caronport in 1979 to teach high school, including showing students how to complete their taxes, explained Long. He is now a substitute teacher.
The fire chief can also be found as a coach encouraging his players and helping them grow as athletes and teammates.
The high school assigned Appleby to the fire department in 1979 as an extracurricular activity, since the village was attempting to establish one. He served as a firefighter until 2008 but stepped in as fire chief after the previous chief died of a heart attack.
Since then, Long said, Appleby has worked to grow the Caronport department and works with the village and RM of Caron to ensure his team has the resources it needs to respond to emergencies. Some new tools purchased include the Jaws of Life, new turnout gear and a new command truck.
“Rod is the champion of a good deal,” joked Long, saying Appleby is also quick to help his neighbours by providing them with a bike or driving them to a doctor's appointment.
“Rod is a true testament to what it means to wholeheartedly serve your community every day,” she added.
The Caronport Fire Department also serves the RM of Wheatlands, Hamlet of Caron, Village of Mortlach, Hamlet of Parkbeg and about 48 kilometres of Highway 1 and CP Rail’s mainline.
