Most of our staff this Tuesday evening has headed home. The winter that wasn’t, now is, with heavy snow and winds resulting in a treacherous ride for commuters.
It is these times that we think most of public employees – from plow truck drivers, to ambulance attendants, fire personnel and the county OPP.
The travelling public isn’t always as cautious as they should be. And truthfully no one is immune from accidents that just seem to happen when conditions are poor. But through all of that, there are dedicated men and women in uniform who consistently brave the elements and sacrifice their safety without hesitation in service of others.
Local fire departments have had their fair share of challenges in recent weeks. From displaced families in Harriston to the tragic loss of 40-plus horses at a Puslinch training facility, local firefighters demonstrated teamwork and compassion for the people involved.
Larger incidents call for a greater number of helpers. Often when a fire is too big for a township or hampers their ability to cover the rest of the municipality in the event of an emergency, neighbouring departments will help out. It used to be called mutual aid – and may go by a similar name now – but the gist is when neighbours needed a hand, other fire departments shared resources. It is a comfort to know such team work exists.
Ambulance attendants deserve a merit badge for their compassion and hard work, dealing with situations that many people simply couldn’t stomach. It takes special people to deal with traumatic situations and keep people as safe as possible until they reach an emergency ward. Often we have heard stories about them following up to wish people well before heading out on their next assignment.
County OPP officers have their hands full too on nights like this. While the risks associated with their work are always considerable, we remain grateful that so many officers retain a sense of goodness when dealing with harrowing circumstances. Whether it be accidents, fatalities or missing persons, there is a sense of realism that most officers employ. Sometimes good people just have bad times.
Men and women in uniform, capably trained and dutifully committed to keeping our community safe, certainly continue to earn our respect. Residents are fortunate to have such good people on their side.
