OpsFitness Podcast

This is by far the longest podcast that I have ever did! It was also so much fun as well. We talk about so much like firefighting, mental health and we really hit it off talking about fitness something that we are both passionate about! Thank you so much Brad!!

 1. Tell me a little about yourself and how long have worked for EFD for and in what capacity? I have had a keen interest in Sport, Fitness, Health and Wellness all of my life. I am a certified track and field and strength and conditioning, coach with 43 years of competitive experience under my belt in the sports of athletics, bobsleigh, swimming and water polo, I now put all of my knowledge and expertise to good use as the Health and Wellness Coordinator for Edmonton Fire Rescue Services and Mental Health First Aid, Psychological First Aid and R2MR (first responder) instructor for the City of Edmonton. I have worked for the City for 5.5 years, before that I was at the U of A. During my athletic career, I represented Canada in the Olympic Games, the World Athletics Championships, The World Bobsleigh Championships, The Pan American Games, The Commonwealth Games and many other international events. As a competitor, I won 17 national titles (15 in the shot put and two discus titles). Upon retiring from competing, I was the head cross country, track and field coach for the Univ. of Alberta for 10 years, and helped develop champions at the provincial, national and international levels. I was also a  mentor/coach for Special Olympics Athletics athletes and coaches in Alberta. Currently, I coach veteran paralympic  athletes and others interested in improving their throwing skills. I also sit on the board for Athletics Alberta and am the current President of the Edmonton Track and Field Council. 2. What was the hardest time of your life? What tools did you use to get through it? Two times - dealing with my first major injury as a swimmer - dealing with not being able to just work through it: learning about rest and making a change in to a different direction. Moving in a different direction is what took me from swimming to track. At the time of the injury, it was devastating but looking back on it now, it was the best thing that ever happened to me. The second "hard time" came in my involuntary shift from being a coach at the university - to being unemployed (and overqualified for many jobs) and then my transition to working with the city,;first as a personal trainer in city rec. centers. Again, difficult at the time (and sometimes still stings a little) but definitely one of the best things that ever happened to meas it brought me to EFRS! 3. What are your greatest successes? Helping others to shine (inspire and motivate them to be)...Olympics and coaching at the Olympics pretty cool too! :) 4. Now that you have experienced life a little, what would you tell your 20-year- old self? You don't need a lot of stuff...collect experiences and be wise with your money and your heart! 5. Who is your greatest role model and why? Anyone who has the strength and courage to continue to try when they have been knocked down...Anyone who, regardless of the circumstance, finds a way to keep moving forward - even in small steps. 6. Any particular stories that stand out from your days serving behind the front line? How has fitness played a role in it? Too many to write about..lol. Fitness and overall health  (spiritual, emotional, physical and mental) have always played integral roles in my life 7. What is your favourite failure that has led to success? No real failures...just a wide range of experiences :) 8. What do you feel most proud of? My ability to be of service to others 10. What do you want your tombstone to say? She Shined brightly and was a guiding light to many

This podcast really came organically, I saw an opportunity to interview the Cheif for Edmonton Fire & Rescue and I took it.   We talk about how he became a firefighter and the Health and Wellness Program that EFD has. It is truly one of the best in North America.   Check out the podcast and let me know what you think!Thanks, Chief!

1. Tell me a little about yourself and how long have you or served behind the front line for? In What capacity? I am 62 YO male, married have two daughters and a son. I worked at Orange County Fire and Rescue in Winter Park Fl for 35 years and have been retired two years in June and live in New Smyrna Beach, Fl-The Shark Capital of the World. I am one of the owners of Firesled Fitness and Training. We develop Firefighter Functional Fitness and Training Equipment.I worked in many ranks and capacities when I worked at OCFRD:• Firefighter• Engineer (Driver)• Lieutenant• Wellness Coordinator• Bike Patrol Coordinator• Safety Captain• Battalion Chief• Safety and Wellness Chief   2. What was the hardest time of your life? What tools did you use to get through it? I got a call one afternoon when I was on shift from a family member who explained that my dad had fallen on a job site and I needed to go there immediately. When I arrived, I saw the coroners' van and one of my worst nightmare had come true. It was hard to believe that my hero who I had looked up to and relied on most my life was gone. I not only had to process that, but I also had to figure out how to tell my mom, a woman who did not drive and to my knowledge never worked. He was her world. I used the tools my dad left me with. You do what is expected of you which is take care of your family the best way you can.     3. What are your greatest successes? • My kids are all very independent and out in the world. • My current marriage.• My health after 35 years in the Fire Service and a rough youth.• The FD Wellness Program I was credited with creating.• The Firesled Fitness and Training business and the equipment that we invented. There is nothing like it.   4. Now that you have experienced life a little, what would you tell your 20-year- old self? Nothing good lasts forever, and nothing bad lasts forever.       5. Who is your greatest role model and why? My Dad and probably too many reasons to list but here are the main ones. His primary purpose in life was to take care of his family and friends. He worked as an ironworker, wielder-boiler mechanic. I don’t ever remember him calling in sick and rarely took a vacation. It was hard back breaking work, I know because he brought me to work as soon as he thought I was old enough to pull my weight. He taught me to work hard and that your employer deserves a good day’s work and appreciate the opportunity that they gave you. He led by example, he was respected by the people that worked for him and had often loaned them money to purchase tools or equipment they needed to work. Some didn’t pay him back and when I asked him why he kept doing it, he just said it was the right thing to do. He was a simple man that got joy from his horses and animals he raised and took care of. Basically-he was a superhero in my eyes.   6. Any particular stories that stand out from your days serving behind the front line? How has fitness played a role in it? Most of the stories that stand out are ones I choose not to dwell on. Don’t get me wrong there were more good times than bad, but those slides don’t come up as easy. I had great crews that worked hard as a team and enjoyed being together on and off duty. We did a lot of good and saw a lot of bad things happened to good people.Fitness played a role in almost every call from lifting heavy patients to kicking down doors and fighting fire. I took pride in lasting the longest on a bottle and working longer and harder overhauling. Probably my biggest testament to the important role fitness played in my career would be the length I served without a life ending disease or a carrier ending injury. Fitness made me resilient.   7. What is your favourite failure that has led to success? Not sure that I have any favorite failure, but there is one that comes to mind that led to success. When the Fire Chief selected me as OCFRD’s first Wellness Coordinator, he pulled me from shift work where I was very comfortable and