Rod Appleby has been a reliable presence in Caronport for over 40 years, including nearly 20 years as the fire chief, so his colleagues plan to honour him with a swanky banquet.
Caronport Fire and Rescue and the Rural Municipalities of Caron and Wheatlands are holding a gala — a full roast beef dinner — on Saturday, Sept. 30, at The Landing on 418 Centre Street, with doors opening at 6 p.m., supper at 6:30 p.m., and dessert, speeches and a presentation around 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $10 each, while kids under six are free. To purchase a ticket, call or text 306-631-4374.
It is free to attend just for the speeches, presentation and dessert; guests should arrive around 7:30 p.m. for those events.
Ray Francis, former head of Moose Jaw EMS, will be the event MC, while the provincial fire marshal will also be in attendance.
Appleby moved to the Village of Caronport in 1979 to teach high school; he is now a substitute teacher. He also coached students and helped them grow as athletes and teammates.
The high school assigned Appleby to the fire department in 1979 as an extracurricular activity because the village was attempting to establish a fire unit. He served as a firefighter —Royden Taylor was his first fire chief — until 2008, when he became leader after the previous chief died of a heart attack.
Appleby spent 16 years as Caronport’s fire chief before he announced last year that he was stepping down. Jared Mickleborough took over in November 2022, with Appleby staying on until this April past to help with the transition; he has returned to being a normal firefighter and first responder.
“He’s the pillar in the community out here. We think that should be noted … as a good news (item) … ,” said Matthew Nancarrow, who has served with Caronport Fire and Rescue for five years and been deputy chief for two years. “It’s not something you (normally) have, a chief for 16 years (whom) you can honour.”
Appleby helped build the fire department into a well-oiled machine, while he contributes to humanitarian efforts through Firefighters Without Borders by sending older equipment to countries that require support.
Furthermore, the 44-year fire veteran is a great leader who pushed the department forward and made positive changes, Nancarrow said. He showed considerable leadership during the pandemic by ensuring the volunteer organization retained its members while continuing to cover the area.
Appleby helps firefighters relax when dealing with traumatizing incidents because he offers “dad jokes” that make the crew smile, the deputy chief continued. Moreover, his humour helps kick-start members’ mental recovery process during de-briefing meetings.
“That makes a world of difference sometimes when you’ve had to deal with a bad wreck … and he can talk you through it without having to worry with all the stuff we see and deal with,” Nancarrow said.
The deputy chief noted that Appleby’s influence has been exported far and wide since many firefighters have gone on to serve in Moose Jaw, Vancouver and the United States.
“The man deserves a lot of recognition and a lot of praise for the years and everything he’s gone through and helped out in the community … ,” Nancarrow said, adding Appleby still has a passion for firefighting, evidenced by his continued support of the department.
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