Was I destined to become a firefighter? I always remembered that this picture existed somewhere, but I just wasn’t sure where, until my sister Sophia dug it out somewhere and gave it to me. This was at a really young age, I will guess between 3-4 years old. I can’t really recall “wanting” to be a firefighter when I was younger, but I DO remember this television show with firefighters that I enjoyed, hence the hat. Day 3 of training was more in-class stuff. Union stuff, benefits, public education. All stuff that has to be covered. Can’t wait until we get down to the down and dirty. Have our first PT (Physical training) tomorrow morning. Two of our instructors are ex-military guys so they’ll definitely be whipping us into shape!

With the 3rd pick of the 2010 Firefighter draft, the Oakville Fire Dept select, from Seneca College, Power Forward JEFF YEE!!! I faxed in my acceptance letter today, so it is OFFICIAL, I am going to be a FIREFIGHTER!!! Ok I don’t know if I was the third pick or not, I could have been 1st or 2nd, but I figure 3rd is safe, less chance of being a bust, and less pressure. Michael Jordan was drafted #3 overall too! This journey began even before I started my fire training at Seneca. Ironically enough, it began in Oakville, several years back while I was working for McD’s Special events. We were doing an event for the Oakville hospital when I ran into a childhood friend of mine, and told him of my intention of becoming a cop. He was dumbfounded. “Why do you want to be a cop?” he said. The public hate you, you get shot at, the hours are long, it’s stressful, etc, etc. Why don’t you become a a firefighter? The public loves you, the hours are great, pay is great, it’s the best job in the world. And so it began. I did my research on schools that offered the Pre-Service Firefighter training. I applied to Seneca, and got in last-minute as someone dropped out. I started Fire training in fall 2007, graduated in summer 2008. Along the way, countless hours of training, hitting the books, tests, exams, physicals, and in the end, it was all worth it. Even had to shell out $4500 to get laser surgery on my eyes. Throughout this journey, I never gave up hope, never gave up faith that I would reach my goal. I faced many obstacles. Failed tests, failed interviews. But I didn’t give up. I worked harder. Improved myself and worked on my weaknesses. When I didn’t pass my first interview with Toronto Fire, I went back to the firehall to ask for advice on what I could do better the next time. I was put on the list for Kitchener/Cambridge/Waterloo but never got a call. I didn’t pass my first interview with Oakville Fire, but got called in for a second, and was placed on the hiring list. Then, I got hired in Nov. 2009 as a call-taker dispatcher for Toronto Fire. A stepping stone. A door opened. And an opportunity. I’ve been at Toronto Fire Communications for 4 months now and it has been great. My colleagues are nice, and we always have big massive meals on nightshift so I never have to bring dinner. And than the call came. Mon. Feb 22, on the day of the big snowfall, trying to drive to the gym with my sister and her friend, at 5pm stuck in traffic. It was the BEST phone call EVER in my life. “We’d like to offer you a position as a probationary firefighter with Oakville Fire Dept”. That was, the 2nd best day of my life. The first of course my wedding day. But I’m sure, there will be another day, that will top either one of them……….
Onto my next chapter in life, with the Oakville Fire Dept, as a FIREFIGHTER!!!!

Watched this movie tonight, Food Inc, and was very turned off about how a few LARGE corporations control what we eat. There is so much “crap” that is put into our foods, it is absolutely ridiculous. The treatment of animals, to make them bigger, fatter, faster, for us to consume, and therefore generate MORE money for these large food corporations is insane. Makes me not want to eat any meat at all anymore. Grace and I have started buying our meats from a store called Fresh From the Farm, which is located at Donland’s and O’Connor. Their meat comes from mennonite farms, not from large corporate slaughterhouses. The cost is not that much more than what you get from big grocery stores such as Loblaws, Metro, Sobey’s, but much more worth it.  The animals are not locked up, are free to roam, are fed grass in the summer, and are not injected with growth hormones.  You can never be too safe with what you eat. Read your labels, make sure you wash your hands, and try to buy local when you can.