Former Etobicoke firefighter Geoff Hoar packs it in after almost 32 years.
Popular longtime Etobicoke fire Captain Geoff Hoar has
retired after almost 32 years of fighting fires and tending
disasters.
Hoar spent almost 15 years at Etobicoke Fire Department
before serving the Town of Caledon Fire and Emergency Services, where he was past president of the Caledon Professional Fire Fighters’ Association.
“While a great career, it has not always been an easy career,” he said. “Were it not for the support of my family, I don’t know that I would have made it this far.”
Fireman Geoff Hoar (centre) with his colleagues, who will be missed, on his last day on the job.
He plans to “enjoy many, many years of the pension that I have worked so long for.”
Hoar during his distinguished career served as a fire fighter, Acting Captain, Captain and Certified Company Officer.
He was at one time an instructor at Seneca College where he taught a pre-service fire program.
“Lots of memories of the amazing people I have worked beside,” Hoar wrote on social media. “It is time to transfer to “R”(retirement) shift.”
He will miss his colleagues and called his last day on the job ‘bittersweet.’
“Once I walked through that door though the job is who I am I couldn’t imagine doing anything else,” Hoar recalled. I love “never
knowing what is coming next.”
Retiring Geoff Hoar said his last day as a ‘bittersweet’ moment.
The veteran fireman has fought hundreds of blazes and tended as many emergencies and disasters during his more than three decades
in the service.
He said today’s fire fighters face “increasingly complex standards and training requirements on the one hand juxtaposed by the need to generate ‘value’ to the community on the other.”
“We can’t do everything with less than it took us to do some things,” the fireman said.
Word of the popular fire fighter retiring sparked a lot of feedback from colleagues on social media.
“Enjoy your well-deserved retirement,” wrote Cheri Mollison. “A new adventure begins for you.”
“Congratulations Geoff, I wish you many happy years of retirement,” said Bruce Bottum.
Rick Stella wrote “retirement is nice Geoff. Pleasure working with you.”
“Welcome to crew five,” joked Bruce Zimmerman