Firefighters welcome seven new recruits at graduation ceremony

Seven new recruits were welcomed into the Thunder Bay Fire and Rescue Service ranks.

The graduates of the 10-week training course were official welcomed to the department at a ceremony at the Thunder Bay and Region Protection and Emergency Services Training complex on Saturday.

The new firefighters brought the total number of personnel at Fire and Rescue to 210.

For Derek Bravinder, the ceremony marked the end of seven years of trying to join the fire service. He wasn’t able to make it his first couple of tries but the 32-year-old father of two never gave up and finally succeeded in his goal.

“It’s very exciting to have graduated,” Bravinder said. “First of all I love Thunder Bay and I’m really excited about the fire department. Thunder Bay has a lot of opportunities to be involved in a whole host of things. I really respect (the fire department) and I’m excited to be serving in the city.”

Bravinder had some doubts that he wouldn’t make it and considered other career path but he stuck with it kept giving it another try, he said.

“You get frustrated sure but you just got to pick yourself up by your boot straps and give it another try,” he said. “I always knew it was something I wanted to do.”

He added that he would be stationed at the Vickers Street station.

Bravinder graduated alongside Lundy Thurier, Houston Welsh, David Sisko, William Meakin, Neil Leather and Blair McGuire.

Fire chief John Hay said it’s difficult for new recruits to join the department on their first try. He said it’s not an easy task to join the department and the potential candidates have to stick with it if they want to succeed. 

He said it’s a proud moment for the department and the city to welcome the new recruits.

“It’s rare that someone gets it on the first try,” Hay said. “It’s quite a learning experience to learn how to compete with the large number of people that are looking for a few positions in our service. We see that frequently where someone tries over and over again. That’s a good indication that someone really wants this job.”

The department also recognized 20 members of Fire and Rescue Service for their long years of service.