CARROT RIVER — Dylan Borody, Carrot River’s deputy fire chief, was honoured with a certificate and a surprise presentation after being named the firefighter of the year.
Borody was nominated for the award, given by the Saskatchewan Volunteer Fire Fighters Association, by Bryce Lytle, Carrot River’s fire chief.
Lytle said the nomination was due to Borody’s work as acting chief during the three month period between the last fire chief leaving, and Lytle’s arrival.
“My relationship with Dylan started way before I got here,” Lytle said. “He was one of the first people to contact me from Carrot River after he knew I accepted the position. He contacted me wondering, ‘When are you coming here?’ He wanted the information because he was very busy working 14, 16 hour days. His wife was a nurse and he had a small child at home, as well as they were planning a wedding.”
Lytle said he made it to Carrot River a week before Borody’s wedding, allowing him to take that stress off.
“Once I got here and took over and started to see everything they were running into, it wasn’t just, ‘He took over as chief’. He was only five years into his career so it was a big step for him.”
Lytle spoke positively of Borody’s handling of calls while acting as fire chief including a water rescue and hazmat calls.
“They were the first time, so he was in charge of essentially first time calls for Carrot River.”
Borody said he was blown away by the recognition.
“They say it takes a community to raise a family, but it also takes a community to help protect that family and in order to have employers and firefighters backing me is the only reason it is possible,” Borody said.
While Borody knew for months about being named firefighter of the year, the award presentation was kept as a surprise, and blended into an award luncheon for local businesses on Oct. 15.
At the luncheon, the RM of Moose Range and the Town of Carrot River honoured local businesses for supporting volunteer firefighters who work for them.
Several local businesses including the Carrot River Co-op and Edgewood Forest Products were recognized for allowing their employees who serve on the department to take part in emergency calls on the job.
Each of the businesses was presented with a certificate.
Kevin Trew, Carrot River’s administrator, said it’s seldom that members have any struggles with having to leave work to perform their duties within the department.
“The Town of Carrot River and the RM of Moose Range have really valued the support the businesses give to our members by having members of Carrot River Fire and Rescue on staff, and giving them the opportunity to, at the drop of a hat, leave to take care of a fire or any kind of emergency,” Trew said.
According to Trew, the “employer appreciation” event was based off certificates the Town of Carrot River gave out three years prior.
“We decided this year to wrap it up a little bit – just have a luncheon.”
