Though Gerry Wenzel served 35 years as a Saskatoon Firefighter, he didn't expect firefighters would ever save his life.  Wenzel went into cardiac arrest in March. A crew from No. 3 fire hall responded in two minutes, one second, and performed CPR and defibrillation. The 79-year-old Wenzel survived.  “I wouldn’t be here today if it hadn’t have been for their quick response,” Wenzel said.

When Capt. Doug Rea entered the house, one of the first things he noticed was the display of firefighters’ helmets on the wall.  “As soon as we walked into the house, it clicked in right away,” said the firefighter, who worked with Wenzel in the early days of his own career.  The second thing Rea did was take Wenzel’s wife Shirley away from the scene. She had made the call just minutes earlier after Gerry stopped responding and started making snoring noises. “It was the longest two minutes of my life,” she said. 

The couple had nothing but praise for the team that responded to her call.  “They were terrific,”she said of the firefighters’ quick save. “I never in my wildest dreams thought we would need to be rescued.”  In turn, the firefighters who rescued Wenzel hold the former assistant chief in high regard.  Rea became a firefighter in 1984, two years before Wenzel’s retirement.   “Gerry was always very good to me,” Rea said. “When you’re young and you get on the job you listen to what a lot of other people say . . . one thing I learned about Gerry is that he did his job very well.”

The Saskatoon Firefighters would like to thank the citizens of Saskatoon for making the 2009 Muscular Dystrophy Canada Boot Drive another huge success!  On Saturday May 30, Saskatoon Firefighters Local 80 set up a donation station on Preston Avenue in front of Market Mall.  Off duty firefighters volunteered their time to encourage motorists to throw their loose change into the firefighting boot for Muscualr Dystrophy.  Thanks to the public's generosity the firefighters were able to raise almost $7000 to help "make muscles move".  In addition to Saskatoon's generous citizens, Local 80 would also like to thank the Saskatoon Fire and Protective Services Administration and Management Team for their support and use of trucks and crews for the day, as well as Family Pizza in the Churchill Shopping Center and Buddies' Confectionary on Estay for keeping the volunteers fed and hydrated.  Thanks to all the volunteers who came out; the weather was great and everyone had a great time, including sparky!

Local 80 members were in attendance May 2 to help the Saskatoon District Labour Council celebrate 100 years of dedication to working people.  Attendees were presented with speeches by His Worship Mayor Don Atchison, Saskatchewan Federation of Labour President Larry Hubich, and Canadian Labour Congress President Ken Georgetti.  All Speakers thanked Unions and the SDLC for the hard work they have done over the last century, and emphasized the importance of continuing to stand up for workers' rights.

The SDLC supports workers' rights on a daily basis whether through support during conflicts and strikes or political action.  The SDLC also supports the community through their partnership with The United Way, and the Summer Snack Program, which feeds lunch to inner city kids every day throughout the summer.

Saskatoon Firefighters Local 80 and Saskatoon Fire and Protective Services were recognized for their dedication to the United Way at a Volunteer Recognition Luncheon April 9, 2009.  The luncheon was organized by the City of Saskatoon and the United Way, and recognized COS employees who have donated to the United Way, either through payroll deduction donations, or by putting in hours of volunteer activities.

Local 80 and SFPS were presented with the Police Association Trophy for best Per Capita Donation for a City Department with over 100 members.  They share this award with the City Clerk's Office who had the highest Per Capita for a department with less than 100 members.

L80 and SFPS were also presented with the Mayor's Trophy for best overall performance for the fifth consecutive year.  In the 2008 campaign, Local 80 firefighters and SFPS staff raised $37,728, a more than $4000 increase over the previous year, with 91% of all SFPS employees contributing.

On this day Saskatoon Firefighters Local 80 was also proud to present their own trophy for the first time.  The award, named the "International Association of Firefighters Local 80 Trophy", is awarded to the City Department who raises the most total dollars.  This year the recipient for under 100 members was the City Clerk's Office with a total of $5053 raised.  The recipient for over 100 members was the City Police and CUPE Local 59 with $42,621 raised and 85% participation rate.

On January 25, 2009 the Annual Firefighters' Awards Dinner was held at the Sheraton Cavalier.  This event is put on once a year by Local 80, Saskatoon Fire and Protective Services and the City of Saskatoon, and is a night to honour our members' years of dedicated service.  Pictured are members of the group receiving The Bar, which recognizes 30 years of exemplary service.  In addition to the seventeen members receiving The Bar, nine members received The Medal, which recognizes 20 years exemplary service; seven members received First Class Firefighter Certificaton; two members received First Class Dispatcher Certification, and one member was honoured for his promotion from Captain to Assistant Chief.  Congratulations to all this years' award recipients.

 Captain Glenn Cody, Jim Walker, and Greg Sawchuk accepted the Chairman's Award on behalf of Saskatoon Firefighters at the 2009 Bedford Road Invitational Tournament (BRIT).  This was awarded for our members' dedication and involvement with providing first aid and medical support for athletes and spectators over the last eighteen years.  Captain Cody has been involved with the BRIT for many years and schedules all the EMT's, who are providing service on a volunteer basis.

 The Bedford Road Invitational Tournament is a men's high school basketball tournament held once a year at Bedford Road Collegiate.  It is always an exciting event for both players and spectators and is usually the hilight of the basketball teams' year.

Local 80 members and Saskatoon Fire and Protective Services sung their way to a new record this year, raising over $26,000 for Denny Carr's Secret Santa.  Starting in the early morning of December 19, 2008, Local 80 Firefighters sang Christmas carols in local businesses in exchange for donations.  The carolers travelled through the city on a handmade float for the next 16 hours in minus 20 degree weather.  Despite the cold and an economically tough year, citizens of Saskatoon were still not afraid to open their hearts and pocketbooks to help the less fortunate families of this city.

The Secret Santa Campaign was started by Late Radio Personality Denny Carr over thirty years ago and he worked with retired Local 80 Captain Larry Labuch to get the firefighters involved 25 years ago.  The Denny Carr Secret Santa Campaign provides toys and food hamper for 600 families in Saskatoon each year.

Local 80 members show their support for the Children's Wish Foundation by handing out 150 firetruck candy dispensers to children.  The children had just finished walking in the annual Wishmaker Parade that took place on October 18.  The candy dispensers were donated by M&M's.