Gerda Groothuizen, deputy fire chief of life safety and prevention, is retiring on July 29 after more than 32 years with the fire department.

SA国际影视传媒淚 just want time for myself,SA国际影视传媒� she says.

SA国际影视传媒淩ight now and for the last couple of years, itSA国际影视传媒檚 been, I get home, I walk the dogs, I have supper, and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 it for the night. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 no time at the end of the day to do anything. So I want some time to just relax and enjoy.SA国际影视传媒�

Groothuizen has served with YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 fire division since 1989, starting as a volunteer and working up through the ranks to assume her current role in 2008.

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 an impressive resume for someone who entered the profession almost completely by accident.

Having studied physical education at the University of Calgary, Groothuizen came to Yellowknife from Calgary while working for Canadian Mental Health. She was only supposed to fill in for a colleague for a month, but stuck around when that colleague quit.

At the time, she had always wanted to work with the ambulance service, and jumped at the chance when she saw an ad in the newspaper for volunteer firefighters.

SA国际影视传媒淏ecause the fire department does both fire and ambulance, I thought SA国际影视传媒榃ell, OK, ISA国际影视传媒檒l come on as volunteer firefighter, and then I can work on the ambulance,SA国际影视传媒橲A国际影视传媒� she recalls.

Despite her enthusiasm, she almost skipped out on her first training session.

SA国际影视传媒淚 was the only woman, and I felt totally out of place,SA国际影视传媒� she says. SA国际影视传媒淎nd I thought, SA国际影视传媒楬ow can I possibly compete with all these guys?SA国际影视传媒橲A国际影视传媒�

But she completed her training, only to discover to her dismay she couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 join the ambulance crew as a volunteer. That left the fire service.

Between then and being promoted to management, Groothuizen has been present at just about every fire that didnSA国际影视传媒檛 happen while she was on vacation.

SA国际影视传媒淕oing into burning buildings to find and extinguish the fire with a partner and backup team was exciting but nerve-wracking,SA国际影视传媒� she says. SA国际影视传媒淣ever in my wildest dreams as a child or teen did I expect to land such a fantastic occupation.SA国际影视传媒�

Things havenSA国际影视传媒檛 always been easy since then: two firefighters have died in the line of duty during her time.

Still, although it wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 her first choice of career, Groothuizen discovered a passion for community engagement and education through the firefighting service. In her current role, she manages the teams that conduct fire safety inspections around town. She assesses high-risk buildings such as hospitals and seniorsSA国际影视传媒� homes.

Before Covid, her team was also conducting fire safety workshops for students and seniors.

SA国际影视传媒淎nd I love it, just being able to be in contact with the community and to teach people in the community fire safety habits is just phenomenal,SA国际影视传媒� she says.

And the work is having a real impact.

SA国际影视传媒淭hrough community engagement, the number of structure fires is reducing, fire deaths are far and few between, and the number of fire injuries has been minimal,SA国际影视传媒� she says.

Still, after more than three decades on the job, and with her 65th birthday coming up, Groothuizen is looking to retire somewhere peaceful down south.

Even in her final days on the job, she hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 lost her enthusiasm, speaking at great length about fire safety. Even her parting words to the community are about fire safety: Have a working smoke detector. Have a meet-up spot for you and your family outside the house so you know everyone is accounted for if thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a fire. DonSA国际影视传媒檛 leave the kitchen while youSA国际影视传媒檙e cooking, and if you have to, turn everything down first.

SA国际影视传媒淭o reduce death due to fire, to reduce the property loss due to fire, and injury due to fire, that is my passion,SA国际影视传媒� she says. SA国际影视传媒淎nd that is my my goal the whole time that ISA国际影视传媒檝e been in this position and it keeps me going. I just absolutely love doing it.SA国际影视传媒�