Cestnick Profile

ERVEN CESTNICK - Born in New Waterford, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia==22 May 1944.

I always wanted to become a Fire Fighter from an early age.Our Volunteer Fire Hall was only a block away, with one of my play-mates dad, being Fire Chief we were allowed to spend time around the equipment. When in my early teens our Scotchtown Fire Department organized what was believed to be the first Junior Fire Brigade in Canada and I was among the charter members. We did some training and were active mostly at forest fires. This Brigade was short lived. I joined the Royal Canadian Air Force On 11 October 1961, started training in St Jeans on 1 December 1961.Those years everyone was steered towards electronics, including me. I did contact training at Uplands and Clinton Ontario. until remustering to Firefighter in 1963. I headed to Camp Borden my first time to commence tool training, driving, then basic course 6307. Our course had an opportunity to train at night because of the filming of " 3 Minutes To Live "

My first posting was Chatham New Brunswick, then Marville France, which we closed and opened Lahr, Germany. Then to Bagotville, Quebec, Greenwood, Nova Scotia, Goose Bay Lab., Moose Jaw SASK, where I released from Military after 22 yrs. 131 days, to start a new life in Public Service Fire Service at

Dana SASK . My position there was Deputy Fire Chief-Fire Inspector and Safety Officer for the Station. When all the radar Stations closed, I transferred to the Cornwallis recruit training base in Nova Scotia. When CFB Cornwallis closed it's doors 1 December 1994, I retired with 10yrs.285 days with Public Service. If my math is correct ,total time of 33 yrs 51 days, but who is counting. (minutes) I married a Cape Breton French lassie, Catherine on 28 Aug.1965,and raised 2 boys, both of which are employed in U.S.A. Since retirement we have been enjoying our winters in Florida. About 6 miles south of Disney World-Orlando. Our summers are spent here in beautiful Smith's Cove NS, near Digby. Our excuse for going south in winter is to spend more time with our family, (not to mention beautiful weather and no snow ). Eric is married working in Washington, and has made us grandparents. John is presently single working out of Miami.

While in the Canadian Forces I received Chief of Defense Commendation for preventing, what could have been a deadly accident. While in Cornwallis I received Base Commanders Commendation for administering the Heimlich maneuver to restore breathing to a choking victim. I have enjoyed my career as a Fire Fighter immensely, mostly due to the fantastic fellowship amongst all of you who are reading this now. We all had our ups and downs, good days and bad but guaranteed memories for a lifetime. Did I tell you about the time ============?