Governor General's Exemplary Services award
Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Nov 17/00) - For more than 20 years, David Hessdorfer has been ready for disaster at the Yellowknife Airport.
While we all cringe at the thought of what could happen each time an airplane barrels down the runway, Hessdorfer has had to be prepared to jump into action at a moment's notice.
"It was always in the back of my mind," said the veteran of Fire Emergency Services at the airport.
For his service, Hessdorfer was awarded the Governor General's exemplary services medal. Transportation minister Vince Steen presented the medal on Oct. 13.
The award recognizes his 20 years of service in preventing and dealing with airport disasters and playing a role in ensuring the smooth day-to-day operations of the airport fire department.
"His main job has been spearheading fire prevention programs ... and he's very patient with new firefighters," laughed shift supervisor Steve Loutitt.
"He's a real asset to the department and very knowledgeable about certain areas of expertise on the job."
Hessdorfer came to Yellowknife from Saskatchewan in 1972 in search of work.
After nine years with a moving company, Hessdorfer yearned for a change. Volunteering with the city's fire department wasn't enough to satisfy that thirst.
"I wanted to do something that I would want to keep doing forever," he said. "Firefighting was something I was interested in as a kid."
Hessdorfer soon moved into an open position at the airport and, according to the co-workers and several fire chiefs that nominated him, he has been an asset since, especially in training and recruitment.
"Over the course of the years we have trained a lot of people locally and that's something I've always been involved in," he said.
