Acknowledged by his peers at Seattle FD as Firefighter of the Year in 2011, awarded the Fire Engineering/International Society of Fire Service Instructors George D. Post Instructor of the Year award in 2017, and creator of the Nozzle Forward Program, Aaron has been described as articulate, dynamic and magnetic. He identifies most as a 'Sharer of ideas'. He and his Cadre have taught over 20,000 members of the fire service across North America since the program's inception and many have professed that their experience was career changing, myself among them. Multiple listens with a pen and pad of paper are strongly recommended. A true privilege.

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There are a lot of great words being used in the fire service again; fundamentals, basics, work, drilling, passion, dedication, focus, them, and brotherhood. More and more we are coming upon those within our own departments and others that are taking these concepts and putting them to practical use, doing their part to keep our traditions and our mission alive and ever-present. Johnny makes every human effort to embody this choice. He knows he loves this job and he knows what he wants out of it. We talk about learning and teaching, building and beating props, the importance of like-minded and supportive people in our lives and how sharp things are cool.

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Adopted and raised in the beaches area of Toronto with 5 older sisters in a loving but regimented and religious family, my dad grew up with a desire to prove himself in the world, have a family of his own, and to discover his roots. Having worked as a tradesman, and run his own cartage business he discovered the fire service by chance and never looked back. We talk about respect, work ethic, friends and foes, the pumper accident that almost took the lives of him and his crew and changed the course of his career, the fire he will never forget, inquests, and eating groundhog.

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Quiet professionals work diligently to help their communities and for the betterment of their departments and members, in firehouses around the world; you just have to seek them out. With 18 ½ years in the fire service, a Captain, and a father of 3, Rob strives to serve and help individuals and teams thrive on and off the job. From coaching hockey and baseball after playing at a high-level in each sport, to instructing in live fire, driving, and mental health education, he continues to learn and pay it forward. He has worked on the Benevolent Committee for 12 years and counting, spent 3 years as a WSIB Rep, a decade on the honour guard and 11 years on the Peer Support Team. His father’s 47 year legacy in the Fire Service is well represented and carried on by both him and his brother.

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Firefighting runs in the family and so does a strong work ethic and seeing yourself as a part of your community. Joanne has been paying it forward and giving back throughout her life and the years so far in her Firefighting career are no exception. From helping get her Department's Peer Support Team up and running to working with the support group for all First Responders, Wings of Change, to sitting on the board of directors and climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro for the non-profit organization Mom2Mom Africa in support of the children of Arusha Tanzania. She most recently has ventured back to school to become a Life Coach to help fill the gap to support First Responders moving forward after experiencing work-related traumatic events.

 http://wingsofchange.wixsite.com/wingsofchange

http://www.mom2momafrica.ca/

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At 15 years of age, Chris crashed rapidly and painfully into a new reality of addiction and alcoholism. Hired into the Fire Service deep into his struggle, he lived a double life. After years of fighting to get clean and sober he found himself at the crossroads of either his fourth and final attempt at suicide, or asking for help at his lowest point. Everything from that moment on was different. He had to learn how to deal with life on life’s terms how to become a member of the Fire Family that would be instrumental on his road back. 
He quickly became outspoken about his darkness and recovery. Today he continues to sponsor many people in and out of the Fire Service and do work in jails and detox centres, locally and abroad.

Chris recently took part in an educational video series put together by the Mental Health Commission of Canada,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfGR2-RjtsU

and the short Documentary ‘Unmasked’ released by Instillment and Captivate Photo+Cinema,

vimeo.com/243559744 

You can follow him on Instagram @_chris_howe_

and find him on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/chris.howe.3572

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Whether you are trying to get into the Fire Service or completing your 20th year, there are certain instructors that you should seek out to help you bolster your skillset. Andrew is one of those guys. 17 years into his professional and volunteer fire careers, he is still grinding it out. He has sat at the kitchen tables, instructed, and rode on the rigs with some of the best departments in North America, and because of that, he offers a very broad and detailed perspective of the job and the service. He knows the history, where we are at, and educated opinions on where we should go next.

Andrew has taught for Take the Door Training, the Fire Department Training Network, Spartan Rescue, FDIC, and many other conferences. If you would like to meet him and say hi to me while you are there, I'll be taking his Forcible Entry Course in Grand Valley, Ontario, August 3rd, 2018.

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I did an Internet image search relating to the word ‘Grit’ and this was the first one that showed up. Jared can dig deeper and embrace more of the suck than the majority of us, he is comfortable with being uncomfortable, but intertwined with that unrelenting drive is the compassion and patience of a true leader and teacher.

A 25 year veteran of the service, 7 as a Captain and some time spent this past year as an Acting District Chief, Jared’s work as a Firefighter has always focused on the gradual improvement of tools and equipment, skills, tactics, and strategies to achieve the mission. He has either led or been an integral member of countless committees that have produced positive fire-ground outcomes.

It continues to be an honour and a pleasure to call him a friend, colleague, and Brother in Arms.

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Among the host of things that you can depend on Mandy to be, the one thing you can hang your hat on is her consistency; consistently hard-working, compassionate, level headed, down to earth, dependable, genuine, and authentic. She’s the real deal, as a Firefighter, a community member, a friend, and a leader. I can easily say that I have looked to her and leaned on her countless times for perspective and inspiration when they seem to escape me. You are relieved when you find yourself on the back of the truck with her for the shift, because two things are guaranteed to happen, her end of the heavy lifting is going to get done right and you’re going to have some laughs.

As she enters her 12th year as a full-time Firefighter and her 14th year as a volunteer, above and beyond the emergency calls she has helped make better, she can look back proudly at her charity work within her hometown and the city she serves, her successes with progressing the quality of skills, programs and mental health in her departments, and her accomplishments on the Firefit course.

Rookie year – Canadian Nationals Female Bronze
2011 – Canadian Nationals – Female Champ and Relay Champ
2016 – Canadian Nationals – Female Relay Silver and Tandem Co-ed Champ
2 Worlds Relay Medals – Silver and Bronze

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You may believe in fate or chance, but by Chris's take on it, he fell into this line of work by accident; regardless, I'm glad that he did. 
I highly doubt that he would admit it but he's been fearless in his endeavours. From my perspective, he's always impressed me as someone who says yes to paths that open up and embraces and learns from the experiences that result. 
His positive attitude, perspective, and strong work ethic have garnered him a varied and respectable journey from pre-fire service to the back-step.

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A born and raised East-Coaster, Jeff Clayton is a third generation Firefighter and a 24-year student of the fire service. He has had the privilege of teaching fire-ground operations internationally and throughout Canada. Jeff holds numerous certificates from the Ontario Fire College and a certificate in Fire Service Leadership from Dalhousie University. He currently holds the rank of Captain and is assigned to a Technical Rescue Firehouse that runs approximately 3300 calls annually.

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District Chief Peter 'Zeus' Reid was born and raised and continues to live in the city he has served for the 35 years.

A Hazmat Officer for 8 years and a member of his Department's Peer Support Team, he brings knowledge, experience, passion, and compassion to the Fireground and the station.

He Captained his Department’s Combat Challenge / Firefit Team to 5 Canadian Championships and 3 World Championships and completed his competitive career as the over 40 individual world champion with a world record time. He continues to Ref and coach in support of the sport and was honoured and recognized by Firefit for his dedication with the creation of the Peter ‘Zeus’ Reid Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Sport.

Photo Credit: John A. Ryan
www.flickr.com/photos/insightimaging/

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