COCHRANE— Two members of Cochrane Fire Services have been honoured by the province for more than a decade of public service.
First Class firefighter Dale Krawec and First-Class firefighter Robert Beer were presented Alberta Emergency Services Medals on Wednesday (April 14) for their 12 years of service to the department.
The medals are awarded to members who support emergency prevention, preparedness and response in our community. Medals are awarded to members every year who achieve 12, 22, 32 and 40 years of service.
“It is an honour to see First Class Firefighters Dale Krawec and Robert Beer recognized because they serve our community with pride, professionalism and integrity,” said Mayor Jeff Genung. “Cochrane is grateful to you for your tireless service and commitment to keeping our community safe.”
Krawec and Beer both began their tenure with the Fire Service in 2008.
This year Krawec was promoted to a full-time position, after joining the department’s technical rescue team in 2020.
Krawec said he first got involved with Cochrane Fire Services as a way to help out and give back to the community. He added being a firefighter was a boyhood dream of his.
“It’s all about community and helping out. With our stuff we do on the side, there’s a lot of volunteering. We used to do the pancake breakfast, or we used to do the cleanup of the river parks. There’s just a lot of volunteering to help out in the community,” he said. “It’s every boy’s dream. You see that fire truck as a kid and you have that idea that it could be you.”
Krawec has spent 25 years working for Coca-Cola, and working part-time, or paid on call shifts with the fire department.
Given his recent move to a full-time member, Krawec said he is getting ready to retire from his position with Coca-Cola.
“It’s going to feel good. I’m not quite there yet, but it’s close,” he said.
Krawec said it felt good to receive his medal of recognition, and to know that the government of Alberta was taking note of the hard work put in by fire service members.
“It’s nice to know your work and the time you put in doing all the courses and stuff, they notice that and it’s a good feeling,” he said.
Krawec said he is excited to see the new direction of the department that the new fire chief, Shawn Polley, will move toward, and looking forward to more training and learning opportunities.
Beer has been steadily continuing his fire-related education, including becoming an expert in building construction and professional safety.
More than a decade ago, Beer and his family were experiencing a rough period, and people from the town showed them tremendous support.
“The town really rallied around us and supported us and did all kinds of fundraiser,” he said. “The town really showed a lot of heart and support for me and my family.”
Shortly after that, Beer said, he saw an ad in the paper that the Town was recruiting firefighter.
He applied and got the position, which at that time was a paid-on-call position.
Beer spent his days working his day job as a carpenter, and his nights attending training sessions, responding to calls as often as he could.
“My paid-on-call job turned into a real job. I had to get certified, and here we are almost 13 years later,” he said.
Often times the training sessions took place out of town, often at small fire halls in remote locations.
Through all of the nights where he volunteered his time for training, he said his will to give back to the community kept him motivated.
“I just wanted to give back to the community. It’s such a great town that was really there for me when I was having some problems and I wanted to give back and pay it forward,” he said.
Beer said that receiving the medal was an important milestone for him.
“It was an honour. Me and Dale, we started pretty much at the same time back in 2008 … We worked together all of this time. We’ve had some really good times and some really bad times, but we’re still doing it,” he said.
Beer said that his future with Cochrane Fire Services is “looking bright” and he is excited to continue his training and helping the people of Cochrane.
MLA Peter Guthrie expressed his gratitude for the pair of Cochrane’s finest during the ceremony.
“Congratulations to First Class firefighter Dale Krawec and First-Class firefighter Robert Beer for their service and their contribution in serving Cochrane and our residents,” he said. “This is a hard-earned milestone and I want to express my deep gratitude for their hard work and commitment to our community.”
