A night of recognition was recently held at the Sesekinika volunteer fire department fire hall to honour past Sesekinika Fire Chiefs Real Grossinger and retiring Chief Dave Godin.
The Sesekinika Volunteer Brigade started in 1978 as a pilot project supported by the Ontario Fire Marshall’s Office that supplied a portable pump and fire hose. The first fire chief was Bill Righton with Real Grossinger the deputy, and six years later Grossinger became the chief.
Grossinger then donated a 100 x 150-foot lot and moved an out-of-commission salt shed from MTO to the property. This was the beginning of the Sesekinika Volunteer Department and its fire hall.
Grossinger’s perseverance and dedication for the next 47 years has guaranteed emergency fire services for the residents of Maisonville Township as well as responding to traffic incidences along the strip of Highway 11 that passes through Maisonville Township.
Dave Godin, the most current and out-going fire chief assumed the role as fire chief in 2021 and brought the fire department into the 21st century using his experience of computers and health and safety. His guidance and training techniques have attracted many new young members to become volunteer firefighters.
Godin and his wife Noella recently decided to relocate to Southern Ontario and taking over the role of fire chief is deputy chief Nick Kalnins.
Kalnins has been training under the guidance of Godin for the past several years, and he plans to continue state-of-the-art training for the volunteers who will continue keeping the residents of Maisonville Township safe.