OcTOBER 12, 2006

Why Become a Firefighter?

Lorie O’Halloran Contributor

O’Halloran is a student in the journalism program at Holland College..

Community involvement, a sense of belonging and giving back to the community are reasons to become a volunteer firefighter, says Charlottetown’s fire chief.

Bill Hogan said the department is accepting applications to fill future volunteer firefighter positions.

It takes a special person to be a volunteer firefighter. They have to have a desire to do something important for the city, said Hogan. “Someone with courage, dedication, who isn’t afraid of hard work and is willing to accept the challenge of a difficult job.”

With 76 volunteer membets on staff, Hogan said they are not short at the present time, but wants to build up the list of possible candidates.

“We refresh our list every year.” Hogan said over the course of a year the department has experienced volunteers leaving to go west and some who decided they’ve given enough over the years and retired. “We usually fill, from that list, at least two to three positions a year.” Rebecca MacLeod of Charlottetown said for her there is a lot of satisfaction in knowing you're giving something back to the community. MacLeod recently joined the volunteer department and described the training process as rigorous.

“There was a lot of book work plus field training of two full weekends where you tested what you learned from the book.”

Joining the department as a volunteer firefighter is not something to be taken lightly, she said.

“Tt’s a lot of work to get through a course, it’s not something you can breeze through.”

The training required to be a volunteer is not a one-shot deal, said MacLeod. “We train all year round.” All training costs are paid by the department with the initial cost of medical, criminal and driving records paid by the applicant, said Hogan. “We do reimburse them afterwards if they are accepted.”

Once on staff, the department provides life, disability and illness insurance at no cost to the volunteer and it also provides uniforms, protective clothing and an annual honorarium, he said.

“The costs after that is their time.” The city is divided into two response districts, one and two. To become a volunteer a person must live in one of the districts, said Hogan. If the volunteer lives in district one they would be assigned to that district. “That’s so we can have those fast response times.”

Application packages can be picked up at the business office of the Charlottetown Fire Department, located at 89 Kent St.

The closing date for applications is Friday, Oct. 29.

large pepperoni - $8.99

Get great prices on

DHH-DVYVOO

large 5 toppings - $10.99

Delivery to UPEI| campus, Browns Court and surrounding areas only. Must present student ID.

pizza when you present your UPEI student ID

large 3 toppings - $9.99

THE CADRE @ 14

Book Review:Invisible Monster oy Chuack Palahuik

Stacey Murray Advertising Manager

Book Review:Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahiuk Stacey Murray

Chuck Palahniuk, author of Fight Club, writes another brain teaser with his novel Invisible Monsters.

The story begins when a woman on her to way fame and fortune is a victim of a drive by shooting. The accident leaves her disfigured and forces her to wear a veil, and she realises she’s no longer the centre of attention. To prove the point, she goes by aliases such as Daisy St. Patience and Bubba in an attempt to be invisible.

During the course of the novel, Daisy travels across North America with Princess Brandy Alexander, who was formerly a man, and her ex- boyfriend Manus, a sexually- confused former cop. To pass the time, they steal medication from senior citizens who are selling their homes to help fulfill their drug addictions and for trafficing

purposes.

The three set out on their mission for different reasons, but all find the answers they were looking for. Manus is Daisy’s hostage after he nearly killed her. Brandy is pondering

whether to take the final step to becoming a woman, when all she wanted was to be as beautiful as her sister. And Daisy is running from her life and her family, who haven’t heen the same since her brother died of AIDS.

While the book can be confusing and highly unrealistic at points, it demonstrates the confusion she is going through. The novel had more twists and turns than a winding country road. The aliases are meant to throw the reader off, but when the web of secrets begins to unravel, so does the veil Daisy wears to hide from her past.

The book also has a lot of dark humour. As one example, Daisy secretly feeds Manus female drug hormones that alter his body and mind into a sappy, overweight male to get back at him for cheating on her.

The theme of the book is doing exactly what you don’t want to do, or what you’ve been taught is wrong, to find freedom from the ties of society. I think it definitely delivers on the theme throughout the story, and the ending drives the point home. If you’re looking for a book that will keep you guessing, this is it.