INUVIK - After serving as fire chief for 15 years at Inuvik's Volunteer Fire Department, Al German will retire on July 1.

Retiring Fire Chief Al German, left, receives the Governor General Award of Excellence in 2003. Also in the photo is former fire marshal Don Gillis. German will leave the Inuvik Volunteer Fire Department on July 2 He served 25 years on the department, after almost 15 years as chief. - photo courtesy of Inuvik Volunteer Fire Department

German has worked with the department for 25 years and would have been chief for 15 years this August. He will start his retirement on July 2, the day after Canada Day.

"It's the best day of the year, with all the new trucks and new toys," German said. "I will miss the people, all those I've met over the years and they still keep in contact."

Like many other Inuvik residents, German moved north planning on to stay a short while – a two week vacation. He's originally from Saskatchewan, but lived in Churchill, Man., before moving to Inuvik. After only two days in town, the fire chief recruited him on the department.

"Once they found out I was on the fire department in Manitoba, they dragged me down and before I knew it, I was part of the regime," German laughed. "I worked my way up the ladder and became chief. Took all of the training and I guess the firefighters loved me."

All this time later and the firefighters still love him. Not a single firefighter could say something bad about him and most expressed words of regret at his departure.

"I can't believe it. My whole life will change next week," said deputy fire chief Julie Miller. "I'm not happy about him leaving the department. It won't be the same. He's been a pillar for so long."

During his time as chief, German made a number of contributions to not only the Inuvik fire department, but the NWT. president of the NWT Fire Chiefs' Association for 10 years and was the NWT director for the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs for eight years.

While on the NWT Fire Chiefs' Association, German brought the training standard for firefighters in the territory up to a FPA (fire protection association) standard. In 2003, under German's leadership, the Inuvik detachment won for best volunteer fire department in Canada. He also replaced every vehicle in the department's fleet, with the feather in his cap being the new Smeal105 foot ladder truck they received on June 25.

During his tenure, he also increased the number of females working as firefighters. When he started as chief, only one woman worked on the department. Now there are 12 women working on the front line of fires.

"He believes you could do the job and it doesn't matter what plumbing you were born with," Miller said. "He's been supportive of everyone and wants women to succeed in more non-traditional roles."

Over the past 13 years, German estimates he's trained more than 200 firefighters, some of whom have gone on to become career firefighters, emergency medical technicians or doctors. Like many other organizations in the North, there's a high turnover rate, but German has a knack for making people feel comfortable.

"He treats everybody the same," said David Bernhardt, a firefighter with Inuvik for 31 years. "He'll walk up to you and if you need training, he'll teach you everything."

What he's most proud of though, is ensuring the department feels like a family and not like a business.

"I used to be one of the kids," German said. "But now I'm the dad, I guess, the Father Goose."

While many other volunteer departments need to run recruitment campaigns to keep numbers up, the Inuvik department has 30 members, close to the maximum.

"A lot of that is good leadership. Everyone wants to be part of a good organization," Miller said. "The firefighting family is an extension of his own family."

While it seems many stories of German during his time on the department can't be shared with the newspaper, there's one thing his crew of firefighters will miss.

"Al's voice on the radio. It really brings the department together," Miller said. "A lot of what it is, is his personality. He has a magnetic and infectious laugh that people just draw upon."

German's contributions to the community were not limited to the fire department. It was his driving force that brought the dream of a golf course to Inuvik, and he also started the slo-pitch league. In fact, the Road's End Golf Course will keep him returning to Inuvik for the next few summers as he helps ensure its completion.

"I've got to finish the golf course," German said. "I'll come back every summer. It's my life project."

After the summer, German will move with his wife and daughter to Courtenay, B.C., on Vancouver Island to enjoy his "early" retirement, but he won't forget Inuvik and the volunteer firefighters.

"It is the best volunteer organization to belong to," German said. "I'm building the golf course to give back to the town. It's been so good to me."

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