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Oakville deputyfire chief has called it a career by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff 3 |Thursday August 3, 2017 | OAKVILLE BEAVER |www.insidehalton.com After more than 36 years with the fire services, Oakville Deputy Fire Chief George Birtig has called it a career. The local resident retired from the Oakville Fire Department on Tuesday (Aug. 1), at which point he said he would be joining his wife in travelling and spending time with their grandson. "It' s actually a bit surreal, but it is time for me to go," said Birtig dur ing his last day on the job. "It' s been pretty amazing. The people have been fantastic. The Town of Oakville is an amazing organization. We've certainly got ten a lot of support along the way from our councilors and senior staff.. .Thirty-six years with the fire services has gone quick, but it has been very rewarding." Birtig' s career with the emergen cy services began in Thunder Bay where he served as a paramedic be fore becoming an airport firefighter at the Thunder Bay airport from 1981 to 1987. He later joined the Thunder Bay fire department where he worked from 1987 to 1998. Birtig spent the next 14 years with the Markham fire department where he was promoted to platoon chief. In March 2013 Birtig joined the Oakville Fire Department where he has served as deputy chief with responsibilities ranging from en suring all personnel are properly trained to bringing the fire service' s message of fire prevention to the public. Birtig said some of the accom plishments he is most proud of in clude bringing an Epi Pen program to Oakville. Since January 2017 local fire fighters now carry Epi Pens, which could mean the difference between life and death for a person having a serious allergic reaction. "I'm also proud of the fact we are maximizing the use of our training centre to keep our staff well trained and of excellent caliber to protect the citizens of Oakville," said Birtig. "We're also trying to do a lot of outreach in our community -- a lot more face-to-face with people to talk to them about fire safety." George Birtig has retired as deputy fire chief. | File photo Fire Chief Brian Durdin called Birtig' s retirement well earned. "He' s been a great part to our fire administration team," said Durdin. "He' s been a huge advocate for fire prevention and public educa- tion. He' s helped us increase our exposure to the public. He' s been our health and safety co-chair for a number of years so he has really been a great asset to the fire man agement team. We are certainly happy to see him off on his retire ment. It is definitely well earned." Oakville Mayor Rob Burton also weighed in on Birtig' s retirement. "For more than 35 years, Deputy Chief Birtig' s service has helped make residents in Oakville and across Ontario safer," he said. "Council thanks him for his years serving our community and others, and wish him and his fam ily all the best in retirement." Durdin said a nationwide search for Birtig' s replacement is already being conducted by the headhunt ing organization Odgers Berndtson. He is hopeful a replacement will be in place in three to four months. In the meantime Durdin and Deputy Fire Chiefs Andy Glynn and Paul Boissonneault will be div vying up Birtig' s responsibilities. "The fire department is in good hands," said Birtig. "That' s for sure." lawn V , you grow we mow BRC>SM l LANDSCAPE DESiGN &MAiNTENANCE Sprinklers Weekly Property Maintenance Spring & Fall cleanups Garden Design Stone Retaining Walls Interlock Sod Installation S e rv in g O a k v ille & B u rlin g to n In ju re d ? I GAN HELP. My team o f ex p erien ced lawyers can h elp you with: - Disability c laim s * `short-T erm Disability, Long-Term Disability, c P P Call today for a free consultation and estimate (9 0 5 ) 4 6 7 - 1 5 0 7 · w w w .la w n b r o s .c a A IR E O N E M A D N E S S S A L E ! $700 OFF HIGH EFFICIENCY CENTRAL AIR - c a r A ccidents - slip an d Falls - W rongful Dismissal YOU DON'T PAY UNLESS I GET YOU MONEY. S Ls| s a m s p a d a f o r a happy 150t h CENTRAL AIR OR FURNACE DIAGNOSTIC SPECIAL C A L L N O W , Q U A N T IT IE S A R E L IM IT E D ! INJURY AND EM PLOYM ENT LA W canada o f f ic e s in o AK v ILLE a n d T O R o For a fre e con su ltation call: NTO HEATING & COOLING www.aireone.com ,X t (9 0 5 ) 8 4 9-49 98 1 888 827 2665 oak ville: 905.842.2022 to r o n to : 41 6.644.3999 email: ssp ad afora@ slsp c.ca