Vegreville Fire Department Honours Alan Robert for 30 Years of Service

Vegreville Fire Department Honours Alan Robert for 30 Years of Service

Alan Robert is retiring after 30 years of service with the Vegreville Fire Department, (VFD). Alan grew up in Vegreville. He has a wife, three grown children, and three grandchildren. Alan is a retired professional technologist where he has built electrical sub-stations and generating stations all over the province with ATCO Electric for 40 years.

Alan started working as a firefighter with the VFD in September of 1990. When I asked Alan what inspired him to join the fire department, he said his father wanted him to join a service club in Vegreville but he was a bit of an introvert and didn’t feel these clubs suited him. “But one morning, I woke up and I heard the siren go off and I thought I could be a firefighter. This was the way I saw myself giving back to the community I lived in.” “I had various roles in the fire department; I was a firefighter, lieutenant, captain, deputy chief, and an intern fire chief. I have been lucky enough to gain enough and learn from each of the experiences I had with the VFD and I have tried my best with each of the roles. When asked how it made him feel to be able to save lives and property, Alan replied, “Whenever you are involved in public service, you get the satisfaction of knowing you made your community a better place for those in their time of need.

“The blessings of being a firefighter are I get recognition from my family and friends. It can be a difficult job because in small towns quite often you will be involved with people you know for better or for worse. Also you have to stay mentally and physically healthy, train, put in extra hours, and be prepared to leave the dinner table or your warm and comfortable bed to response to a call.” He said the fire department has always been a paid for service operation even if they are called volunteer firefighters. “You get paid by an on call concept. You get paid for practices, paid for fighting fires, accidents, and work like that. But you do put in volunteer hours when training or for steak fries and other events,” Alan said. “I would recommend this calling to others. You have to be willing to put in the work. You get out of it what you put in. Good work, craftsmanship, and professionalism have its own reward.” Alan said he feels bittersweet about retiring from VFD. “It will be a bit challenging to stay away from the fire department. But I have a family and a full life. I will still go and work as a firefighter if VFC calls me in if a conflagration hits our community or area. I am a handy man and will volunteer for family and friends to help them with what they need. Also, I plan to do a lot of gardening, a bit of traveling when the COVID-19 pandemic is over, fishing, hunting, and a bit of everything.” Alan closed by saying his life is good and he has been very lucky.

Alan Robert is retiring after 30 years as a firefighter for VFD. (Rosanne Fortier/Photo)